Mental health articles

Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Protocols  Alcohol withdrawal and its treatment

Alcohol withdrawal occurs when a person who is dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking. It usually begins within 24 hours of stopping drinking and lasts between four and ten days. The orst period is usually the first two to three days. The more the erson was drinking, the worse are the symptoms.

The common warning symptoms that a withdrawal reaction has

started are:

• tremor;

• shakiness;

• poor sleep;

• nausea;

• anxiety;

• irritability;

• fever;

• restlessness.

As the symptoms worsen, the person becomes confused, hallucinates nd may have fits.

Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Protocols  Treatment in the general health care setting should include:

• education about the relationship between the symptoms and the ithdrawal from alcohol;

• full physical examination (if the person has a fever, has fits, cannot rink fluids, is dehydrated or has a physical disorder, or is allucinating or confused, refer her to hospital);

• thiamine (a type of vitamin) – give 100 mg by intramuscular njection and prescribe a week’s supply of thiamine tablets (50 g daily), multivitamins and folic acid (1 mg daily);

• a four- to six-day supply of chlordiazepoxide, to be taken as ollows:

• day 1, 25 mg four times a day;

• day 2, 25 mg three times a day;

• day 3, 25 mg twice a day;

• days 4 and 5, 25 mg at night;

• days 6 and 7, 12.5 mg at night.

• alternatively, you can use diazepam, in the same way, starting rom a dose of 5 mg four times a day.

Tags: alcohol, alcohol withdrawal, treatment, withdrawal