PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE SYNDROME IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) is an important condition causing significant morbidity and mortality contributing to 20-30% of all hospital admissions in India. There are various pharmacological agents available that are equally effective in the treatment of ADS along with psychotherapy. Hence this study is conducted. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the inpatient department of Psychiatry, Victoria hospital, Bangalore for a period of 4 months. 70 study participants diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome willing to give written informed consent were enrolled. Demographic profile and treatment details were noted in a pre-structured case proforma. Data was analyzed and represented using descriptive statistics. The mean age of study participants was 39.38 ± 10.59 years, with a male predominance (98.57%) and mean duration of alcohol dependence was found to be 6.55 ± 0.55 years. 73% of Study participants were diagnosed with ADS alone whereas 27% had ADS along with comorbidities such as psychosis, alcoholic hepatitis, seizures, delirium tremens, diabetes mellitus and hypertension which were treated accordingly. In this study a combination of vitamins, detoxification drugs, anti-craving drugs along with drugs for comorbidities were prescribed. Of the total prescriptions, 39% were vitamins mainly vitamin B1 (Thiamine), 24% benzodiazepines namely Lorazepam, chlordiazepoxide, 20% anticraving drugs includes acamprosate, naltrexone and baclofen and 17% concomitant drugs. Each participant received minimum of 2 drugs, at least one of which was specific for ADS treatment. Vitamins were the most prescribed drugs followed by benzodiazepines and Acamprosate was the major anticraving drug seen in prescriptions.