title: Intravenous ethanol for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in critically ill patients.
abstract: Critically ill patients with alcoholism are at greater risk of morbidity and mortality from alcohol withdrawal syndrome than are patients without alcoholism. Benzodiazepines are considered the drugs of choice for the prevention and treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, but some studies have suggested that intravenous ethanol may be as effective as those agents, as well as being less sedating. We evaluated the evidence regarding the use of intravenous ethanol for the prevention and treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in critically ill patients in order to determine its role in this patient population. Because of the paucity of well-designed clinical trials, and because of intravenous ethanol's questionable efficacy, inconsistent pharmacokinetic profile, and relatively narrow therapeutic index, routine use of this drug is not recommended in critically ill patients who have alcohol withdrawal syndrome or are at risk for it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mazur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003422:Critical Care; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol