Clonidine in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal in the intensive care unit.
We present two cases of patients with a past history of alcohol abuse admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for treatment of respiratory problems, after multiple trauma and after sub-total colectomy, respectively. In both patients, features of alcohol withdrawal were prominent after sedation had been discontinued. Both were treated successfully with an infusion of clonidine.
Ip Yam
P C
PC
Intensive Care Unit, Charing Cross Hospital, London.
Forbes
A
A
Kox
W J
WJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003082:Colectomy; D003422:Critical Care; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000601:surgery
D000431:Ethanol; D003000:Clonidine