Alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Description

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurs after sudden cessation of alcohol consumption. Patients may have the wide range of symptoms from shivering and sweating up to seizures, hallucinations and death. This disorder most commonly occurs in patients who have been drinking on everyday basis for weeks and months. Symptoms may start few hours or a day after the patient has stopped drinking alcohol and they can last for 1-2 weeks.

Symptoms

Shivering, sweating, high blood pressure, rapid pulse, fever, confusion, hallucinations.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done along with other tests that usually include: complete blood count, liver function tests, electrolytes, lipase test and CT scan of the brain.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, hepatogram,lipase test, CT scan and urine analysis.

Additional analyses

Level of ethanol in blood.

Specialists

Addiction diseases, General Practice, Internal Medicine and Medical Toxicology

Therapy

Pillar of the therapy is tranquilizing the patient, supporting vital functions and preventing self-injuring. Treatment always includes infusion, benzodiazepine, for example diazepam. Some cases require antipsychotic drugs, thiamine (vitamin B1) and other vitamins that are also being given intravenously.