Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Improving Outcomes Through Early Identification And Aggressive Treatment Strategies.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2015

Abstract

Alcoholism is a prevalent medical and psychiatric disease, and, consequently, alcohol withdrawal is encountered frequently in the emergency department. This issue reviews the pathophysiology of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, describes the 4 manifestations of alcohol withdrawal, and looks at the available evidence for optimal treatment of alcohol withdrawal in its diverse presentations. Patients commonly manifest hyperadrenergic signs and symptoms, necessitating admission to the intensive care unit, intravenous benzodiazepines, and, frequently, adjunctive pharmacotherapy. An aggressive front-loading approach with benzodiazepines is proposed and the management of benzodiazepine-resistant disease is addressed.

Volume

17

Issue

6

First Page

1

Last Page

18

ISSN

1559-3908

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

26302015

Department(s)

Toxicology Division, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine

Document Type

Article

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