Abstract
The serotonin uptake inhibitor fluvoxamine was assessed in treatment of alcohol-induced Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) using fixed (4 weeks, 200 mg/day) or individualized (6 weeks, plasma concentration ≥400 ng/ml) dosing in randomized placebocontrolled double-blind crossover studies. Cognitive functions and concentrations of the major cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolites of serotonin (5-HIAA), norepinephrine (MHPG), and dopamine (HVA) were determined in abstinent, nondepressed KS patients (aged 45-75), at baseline and placebo (3-4 weeks), and after 3-4 (n = 10) or 6 (n = 4) weeks of fluvoxamine administration. Fluvoxamine decreased CSF 5-HIAA compared to placebo (P < 0.003) without consistent changes in HVA or MHPG. Reductions in 5-HIAA correlated with improvements on the Wechsler Memory Scale Memory Quotient (P < 0.05), independent of effects on attention/vigilance or Beck Depression Inventory scores. Reductions in 5-HIAA correlated with plasma fluvoxamine (P < 0.03) only for fluvoxamine concentrations below 450 ng/ml. These findings suggest improvement of memory consolidation and/or retrieval in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome by fluvoxamine via serotonergic mechanisms.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 27-33 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | European Neuropsychopharmacology |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1995 |
Keywords
- Fluvoxamine
- Korsakoff's syndrom
- Memory
- Serotonin
- Treatment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Pharmacology (medical)