Phenobarbital for Alcohol Withdrawal: Difference between revisions
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Phenobarbital is a non-competitive [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Aminobutyric_acid gamma-Aminobutyric acid] (GABA) agonist which is an equally effective alternative to benzodiazepines (BZD) for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Though its use for AWS has waned and consequently many physicians are now unfamiliar with this regimen, it has both mechanistic and pharmacokinetic properties which make it more suitable for outpatient monotherapy than BZD. | |||
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate which was first synthesized in 1911 and was marketed by Bayer as a sedative in 1912 under the brand name ''Luminal''. PB's anti-seizure effects were quickly recognized in that same year, and it is now the oldest anti-seizure medication on the market. Due to its age, a wealth of pharmacologic data exists for the drug. | Phenobarbital is a barbiturate which was first synthesized in 1911 and was marketed by Bayer as a sedative in 1912 under the brand name ''Luminal''. PB's anti-seizure effects were quickly recognized in that same year, and it is now the oldest anti-seizure medication on the market. Due to its age, a wealth of pharmacologic data exists for the drug. | ||
Revision as of 18:35, 28 August 2019
Phenobarbital is a non-competitive gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist which is an equally effective alternative to benzodiazepines (BZD) for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Though its use for AWS has waned and consequently many physicians are now unfamiliar with this regimen, it has both mechanistic and pharmacokinetic properties which make it more suitable for outpatient monotherapy than BZD.
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate which was first synthesized in 1911 and was marketed by Bayer as a sedative in 1912 under the brand name Luminal. PB's anti-seizure effects were quickly recognized in that same year, and it is now the oldest anti-seizure medication on the market. Due to its age, a wealth of pharmacologic data exists for the drug.
PB was first used for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in 1912, and it has remained in use for this purpose ever since.
PB is a GABA-agonist which has been known to be effective for treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) since 1972.
When PB is used for outpatient treatment of AWS, it should be titrated to effect in a monitored setting. Patients should never be discharged with a supply of oral PB for symptom-triggered dosing.
