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Alexandros I Liappas

Publications and source records attributed to Alexandros I Liappas.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Three cases of zolpidem dependence treated with fluoxetine: the serotonin hypothesis.

Zolpidem is an imidazopyridine hypnotic that is believed to act selectively at alpha(1) subunit-containing gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptors and thus to have minimal abuse and dependence potential. We present three cases of zolpidem abuse and dependence in which the drug was used not for sedation but for stimulation and anxiolysis. All of the patients were treated with fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and managed to discontinue the abuse and remain abstinent from the drug. The efficacy of this kind of medication on the abuse of a GABAergic agonist, in this case dependence on zolpidem, leads to a serotonergic and GABAergic system interaction hypothesis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interrelationship of hepatic function, thyroid activity and mood status in alcohol-dependent individuals.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-induced changes in thyroid function may contribute to the development of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety that almost invariably coexist in alcohol-dependent individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the severity of liver dysfunction and thyroid activity in correlation with anxiety and depressive-like symptomatology before and after a detoxification period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a sample of 100 alcohol-abusing/dependent subjects treated on an in-patient basis according to a standard detoxification protocol, measurements of the serum levels of hepatic enzymes (ASAT, ALAT, gammaGT) and thyroid hormones (T3, T4, TSH) as well as measures of anxiety, depression and global functioning were obtained at baseline and at weekly intervals over the period of 4-5 weeks. RESULTS: After completion of the alcohol detoxification, most measurements returned to normal levels and correlations were observed between the levels of hepatic enzymes and thyroid hormones. Additionally, a significant correlation was obtained between the levels of thyroid hormones and the mood status scales. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated a dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in alcohol dependence with possible implications in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders associated with alcohol abuse.

Adult↗