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Placebo and Analgesic Nitrous Oxide for Treatment of the Alcohol Withdrawal State

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Mark A. Gillman  and
Frederick J. Lichtigfeld
Mark A. Gillman*
Affiliation:
, South African Brain Research Institute, PO Box 1315, Highlands North, 2037 Johannesburg, South Africa
Frederick J. Lichtigfeld
Affiliation:
, South African Brain Research Institute, PO Box 1315, Highlands North, 2037 Johannesburg, South Africa
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

We present evidence that analgesic (as distinct from anaesthetic) nitrous oxide is superior to placebo in the treatment of the alcohol withdrawal state. ‘Carbogen’ as a placebo is as effective as oxygen or medical air. However, placebo alone offers a means of treating the alcohol withdrawal state with a minimum of pharmacological intervention. Analgesic nitrous oxide for those not responding to placebo is a very rapid, effective, and extremely safe treatment which also reduces the use of highly addictive sedative pharmacological agents. This therapy also provides a rapid method of screening those patients requiring intensive monitoring and treatment in hospital from those who might benefit from out-patient therapy alone.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue 5 , November 1991 , pp. 672 - 675
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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