Monday October 20, 2008
Dexmedetomidine (precedex) Infusion as Adjunctive Therapy for Acute Alcohol Withdrawal

Emerging literature is very promising for Dexmedetomidine (precedex) Infusion as an adjunctive therapy to benzodiazepines in acute alcohol withdrawal.

Review of literature shows that dexmedetomidine was shown to be beneficial in alcohol withdrawal delirium first in rats about 10 years ago ! 4 but later many case series in humans have shown a rapid response to alcohol withdrawal delirium after the standard treatment. 1, 2, 3, 5 Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that possesses a high ratio of specificity for the alpha-2 versus the alpha-1 receptor.

The biggest advantage of Dexmedetomidine over benzodiazepines in acute alcohol withdrawal therapy, is that it doesn't suppress respiratory drive and carries simultaneuos properties of analgesia, sedation and anxiolysis.

Related article: The Role of Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) in the Sedation of Critically Ill Patients (ref: P&T, Vol. 30 No. 3 • March 2005 , 158-161)



References: click to get abstract / article

1. Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal delirium: a case report - General Hospital Psychiatry , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , Pages 362 - 363
2. Dexmedetomidine in the Treatment of Withdrawal Syndromes in Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients - Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 2, 118-123 (2005)
3. Dexmedetomidine for peri-operative sedation and analgesia in alcohol addiction - Correspondence - Anaesthesia. 61(3):299-300, March 2006.
4. . Dexmedetomidine, diazepam, and propranolol in the treatment of ethanol withdrawal symptoms in the rat - Alcohol Clin Exp Res.1997 Aug;21(5):804-8
5. Dexmedetomidine Infusion as Adjunctive Therapy to Benzodiazepines for Acute Alcohol Withdrawal - Published Online, 9 September 2008, Tha annals of Pharmacotherapy.