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Updated: May 7, 2026

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
Published on: October 16, 2013
Propofol for benzodiazepine-refractory alcohol withdrawal in a non-mechanically ventilated patient
Darrel W Hughes1, Elizabeth Vanwert2, Lauren Lepori3
1Department of Pharmacy Services, University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA; Pharmacotherapy Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA; Pharmacotherapy Education and Research Center, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Long-term alcohol use confers neurochemical changes in response to alcohol's exogenous inhibitory effects. Downregulation and decreased sensitivity of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors render benzodiazepines less effective at controlling psychomotor agitation. Propofol has been reported to have successfully relieved alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) symptoms in part because of activation of γ-aminobutyric acid channels in combination with antagonism of excitatory amino acids such as N-methyl-D-aspartate. Successful use of propofol in refractory AWS in patients with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation has been reported. We present a case of resolution of AWS symptoms in a benzodiazepine-refractory, nonintubated, non-mechanically ventilated alcohol withdrawal patient with low-dose, continuous-infusion propofol.
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