Effects of alprazolam on pituitary-adrenal and catecholaminergic responses to metabolic stress in humans

Alan Breier, Orlando Davis, Robert Buchanan, Samuel J. Listwak, Courtney Holmes, David Pickar, David S. Goldstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Concurrent effects of benzodiazepines on stress-induced activation of the three classical "stress" systems: pituitary-adrenal, adrenomedullary, and sympathoneural systems have not been extensively investigated in humans. In the present study, the effects of alprazolam (1.5 mg) on plasma levels of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), epinephrine, norepinephrine, dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG, the intraneuronal metabolite of norepinephrine), and mood states were examined in 10 healthy volunteers undergoing glucoprivic stress. Glucoprivic stress was induced by intravenous administration of the glucose analog, 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), at a dose (50 mg/kg) that impairs cellular glucose metabolism and produces a state comparable to hypoglycemia. Alprazolam and 2DG were administered in a double-blind, placebo-controlled manner. 2DG produced robust elevations in plasma ACTH and epinephrine levels, modest elevations in plasma norepinephrine levels, and decreases in plasma DHPG levels. Alprazolam significantly attenuated the 2DG-induced increases in plasma ACTH and epinephrine, but did not significantly effect plasma norepinephrine and DHPG. These data suggest that benzodiazepines attenuate metabolic stress-induced activation of the pituitary-adrenal and adrenomedullary systems but do not effect 2DG-related effects on peripheral sympathoneural function. The possible mechanisms involved are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)880-890
Number of pages11
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume32
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 1992
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biological Psychiatry

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