Safety of Dexmedetomidine Therapy When Used as an Adjunct to Standard Therapy for Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Alcohol consumption has been associated with development of over 200 different diseases worldwide, with alcohol dependence being one of the commonest. Alcohol dependence is associated with acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in atleast 25% of patients who are admitted to the hospital. Multiple drugs are studied to treat AWS, benzodiazepines (BDZ) being the drug of choice. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has often been used in ICUs for severe AWS when benzodiazepines alone cannot control the symptoms of autonomic hyperactivity. We could not identify a systematic review to assess safety of DEX as adjunct to BDZ in treating AWS so this review and meta-analysis was conducted, specifically to assess the risk of respiratory failure with combined therapy.