Barbiturates for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome: A systematic review of clinical trials

Journal of Critical Care
Yoonsun MoGeorge E Karras

Abstract

To perform a systematic review of the clinical trials concerning the use of barbiturates for the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, together with a manual citation review was conducted. We selected English-language clinical trials (controlled and observational studies) evaluating the efficacy and safety of barbiturates compared with benzodiazepine (BZD) therapy for the treatment of AWS in the acute care setting. Data extracted from the included trials were duration of delirium, number of seizures, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, cumulated doses of barbiturates and BZDs, and respiratory or cardiac complications. Seven studies consisting of 4 prospective controlled and 3 retrospective trials were identified. Results from all the included studies suggest that barbiturates alone or in combination with BZDs are at least as effective as BZDs in the treatment of AWS. Furthermore, barbiturates appear to have acceptable tolerability and safety profiles, which were similar to those of BZDs in patients with AWS. Although the evidence is limited, based on our findings, adding phenobarbital to a BZD-based regimen is a reasonable option, par...Continue Reading

Associated Clinical Trials

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Citations

Nov 23, 2017·Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports·Jeffrey FujimotoAntonio M Pessegueiro
Sep 26, 2019·Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods·Hiroshi TsutsumiYoko Nishitani
Aug 30, 2017·AACN Advanced Critical Care·Beatrice Adams, Kevin Ferguson
Apr 8, 2020·Open Access Emergency Medicine : OAEM·Chelsea WolfScott A Simpson
Aug 9, 2020·American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy : AJHP : Official Journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists·Nicole M AcquistoMichael C Thomas
Aug 25, 2020·The Annals of Pharmacotherapy·Mahmoud A AmmarRobert D Becher
Mar 3, 2019·American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses·William P TidwellAngus J Webber
Jul 1, 2018·The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine·David Cardamone

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