In order to establish possible alterations in the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic control of growth hormone (GH) secretion in alcoholics, 800 mg sodium valproate (a drug enhancing endogenous GABA activity), 10 mg baclofen (a GABA(B) receptor agonist) or a placebo were given orally to nine normal men (age 38-48 years) and nine 2-4-week-abstinent alcoholics (age 35-50 years; duration of alcohol consumption 3-6 years). Blood samples for GH assay were taken every 30 min for the next 150 min. Both drugs induced a significant increment in serum GH levels in the normal controls; mean peak was 7.2 and 3.27 times higher than baseline after sodium valproate and baclofen, respectively. In contrast, GH secretion in alcoholic patients did not change after baclofen or sodium valproate administration. Placebo administration did not modify GH secretion in any subject. In concurrence with previous reports showing alterations of GABAergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system of patients affected by alcoholism, these data show the loss of the GABAergic mechanism(s) underlying the GH response to sodium valproate and/or baclofen action in alcoholism.