Description: This presentation compares benzodiazepines—the traditional first‑line therapy for alcohol withdrawal—to phenobarbital and evaluates their relative safety, efficacy, and clinical advantages and limitations. It also reviews emerging evidence on ketamine, esketamine, psilocybin, and LSD‑derived compounds for treating major depressive disorder, treatment resistant depression, and generalized anxiety disorder, highlighting mechanisms, safety considerations, and findings from recent trials. Learners will gain insight into how these evolving therapies may fit into modern psychiatric and withdrawal‑management practices.

Microsoft Teams Webinar link to register for the live session: Register Here

Speakers: Shilpa Francis, PharmD, MPH, PGY1 Pharmacy Resident- Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc and Shawn Patel, PharmD, MBA, PGY1 Pharmacy Resident- Advocate Condell Medical Center

Objectives: ​​ 

  1. Describe the comparative benefits, disadvantages, effectiveness, and safety of phenobarbital and benzodiazepines for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. 
  2. Discuss potential phenobarbital dosing schemes and strategies for the management of alcohol withdrawal treatment. 
  3. Define key mechanisms of action for ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin relevant to mood and anxiety disorders.
  4. Compare and contrast these emerging therapies (ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin) to standard therapy guidelines.  

Target Audience:​ Advocate Pharmacists, Physicians, Nurses, and other interested healthcare professionals

Disclosure:​ The planner(s) and speaker(s) have indicated that there are no relevant financial relationships with any ineligible companies to disclose. 

Materials: PDF icon Single Activity Flyer-Live Francis Patel 51926.pdfPDF icon From Withdrawal to Breakthrough- Audience Slides

Pharmacist UAN: JA0006327-0000-26-001-L01-P

Session date: 
05/19/2026 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm CDT
Location: 
Advocate St. Lukes Medical Center Family Practice LL and Virtual Via Teams
United States
See map: Google Maps
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  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    Aurora Health Care is accredited by the Wisconsin Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Aurora Health Care designates this activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.00 Attendance
    Attendance Credit
    • 1.00 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Continuing Nursing Education (CE)
    Aurora Health Care is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 1.00 contact hours have been awarded to this activity by the Wisconsin Nursing Association. To receive contact hours, participants must attend the entire activity.
    • 1.00 APRN Pharmacotherapeutic Contact Hours
  • 1.00 Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE)
    Aurora Health Care Department of Pharmacy Services is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
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