Management of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
People who suffer acute alcohol withdrawal should be admitted to a hospital if they have a concurrent medical or surgical complication or severe symptoms. Careful assessment, supportive care, and pharmacotherapy, especially loading with a long half-life benzodiazepine such as diazepam, are the essential components of treatment. Patients with milder withdrawal can be managed effectively and safely on an out-patient basis or with nonmedical treatment. The need for pharmacotherapy should be determined on an individual basis. The management of alcohol withdrawal includes offering and initiating long-term treatment to reduce alcohol consumption.
Romach
M K
MK
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sellers
E M
EM
D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans