This is a retrospective cohort study describing 86 admissions to the ICU for alcohol withdrawal between 2011-2015. 86% were treated with benzodiazepines before ICU admission, usually on the general ward. The average dose of benzodiazepine before ICU admission was equivalent to 23 mg of lorazepam. Following ICU admission, all benzodiazepines were discontinued and patients were treated solely with IV phenobarbital. Doses of 130 mg IV were given every 15 minutes in a symptom-triggered fashion to target a Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) of 0 to -1.

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