title: Propofol for Treatment of Refractory Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Review of the Literature.
abstract: The authors evaluated all available evidence on the use of propofol as an adjuvant for the treatment of resistant alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in comparison to other therapies. A comprehensive PubMed search (1966-December 2015) was conducted using the search terms propofol, alcohol withdrawal, and drug therapy. Articles were cross-referenced for other citations. Clinical studies, case series, and case reports published in the English language assessing the use of propofol in adult patients for treatment of AWS were reviewed for inclusion. Propofol is a sedative-hypnotic that exerts its actions through agonism of GABAA receptors at a different binding site than benzodiazepines and reduces glutamatergic activity through N-methyl-d-aspartase (NMDA) receptor blockade. Dosages from 5 to 100 μg/kg/minute reduced AWS symptoms with frequent development of hypotension and requirement for mechanical ventilation. Patients on propofol often experienced longer durations of mechanical ventilation and length of stay, which may be attributed to more-resistant cases of AWS. When propofol was compared with dexmedetomidine as adjuncts in AWS, both agents showed similar benzodiazepine- and haloperidol-sparing effects. Dexmedetomidine was associated with more numerical rates of bradycardia, while propofol was associated with more numerical instances of hypotension. Dexmedetomidine was used more frequently in nonintubated patients. The available data assessing the utility of propofol for AWS exhibited significant heterogeneity. Propofol may be useful in a specific population of patients with AWS, limited to those who are not clinically responding to first-line therapy with benzodiazepines. Specifically, propofol should be considered in patients who are refractory to or not candidates for other adjuvant therapies, patients already requiring mechanical ventilation, or those with seizure activity or refractory delirium tremens. In severe, refractory AWS, adjuvant therapy with propofol may be considered but requires further research to recommend its use either preferentially or as monotherapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brotherton
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Eric P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: H Grace
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kloss
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.|Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Drayton A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D020268:Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004351:Drug Resistance; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D007902:Length of Stay; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057285:Precision Medicine; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D015742:Propofol
keywords: alcohol withdrawal syndrome; benzodiazepine; dexmedetomidine; propofol