Originally only intended as an anti-epileptic carbamazepine has nowadays a multitude of applications in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases. It is also being used for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Its pharmacological properties and side-effects are well known and very effective dosage schedules already exist. The exact physiological action of carbamazepine, however, as well as the pathophysiological basis of withdrawal itself have not been entirely discovered. Evidence exists that "anti-kindling-effects" are of particular importance. A number of controlled clinical studies were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of carbamazepine in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and have also compared its properties to other substances such as clomethiazole and benzodiazepine. Due to its effectiveness and the lack of additive potential carbamazepine offers a useful alternative to conventional therapeutic approaches, especially in the treatment of mild and moderately severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
