Phenobarbital Addition to Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Offers Better Outcomes than Dexmedetomidine in Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

Background

This study directly compares outcomes of phenobarbital and dexmedetomidine as adjuncts to symptom-triggered benzodiazepine treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort analysis at a single tertiary referral institution in a major urban center in the United States. In hospitalized patients above 18 years with AWS between May 1, 2018, and July 31, 2021 we compared the hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, mechanical ventilation incidence and duration of patients who received dexmedetomidine versus phenobarbital as adjuncts to lorazepam-based treatment. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on treatment they received – dexmedetomidine/lorazepam (DEX) versus phenobarbital/lorazepam (PHENO). The use of phenobarbital or dexmedetomidine was left to the discretion of the treating bedside physician.

Results

One hundred fifty-six patients met inclusion criteria with 102 patients (65%) in the DEX group and 54 patients (35%) in the PHENO group. The PHENO group had a lower probability of intubation (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.15-0.70, p = 0.005) and shorter hospital LOS (IRR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31-0.64, p < 0.001), and ICU LOS (IRR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-1.00, p = 0.050). For both hospital and ICU LOS, the PHENO group had shorter LOS than dexmedetomidine at lower doses of lorazepam (<3 mg), but this protective effect diminished at higher doses of lorazepam, at a rate of 10% (hospital LOS, IRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05-1.16, p < 0.001) and 6% (ICU LOS, IRR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99-1.13, p = 0.074) per milligram increase in lorazepam.

Conclusions

A symptom- triggered lorazepam regimen including early phenobarbital administration for severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome is associated with lower hospital LOS and need for intubation compared to a symptom triggered lorazepam regimen with dexmedetomidine adjunct.