Concentration of serotonin metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid from alcoholics before and during disulfiram therapy.

The levels of 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid before and after one week of disulfiram treatment (400 mg/day) from ten male hospitalized alcoholic patients. The disulfiram treatment induced elevated (P less than 0.001) levels of 5-hydroxytryptophol. The levels were higher than in a control group, both before (P less than 0.01) and after (P less than 0.001) the treatment. No effects on the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were noted. The results indicate an altered serotonin metabolism in alcoholics, which is further potentiated by disulfiram treatment.