Medium urgency
-Moderately severe
It is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal with sudden and intense changes in the functioning of the nervous or mental system. It has also been described in cases of withdrawal from sedatives such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates.
They present with the general symptoms of any withdrawal (anxiety, tremor, insomnia, sweating and palpitations) together with the symptoms of the acute phase of delirium tremens (tremor, changes in mental status, deep sleep and delirium with hallucinations).
Diagnosis is clinical by questioning and complete physical examination.
Hospital admission is necessary for appropriate treatment. Treatment includes monitoring of vital signs, treatment of symptoms and prevention of complications.
- Robert S Hoffman, Gerald L Weinhouse. Management of moderate and severe alcohol withdrawal syndromes. UpToDate. Nov 12, 2015.
- Cassidy EM, O'Sullivan I, Bradshaw P, et al. Symptom-triggered benzodiazepine therapy for alcohol withdrawal syndrome in the emergency department: a comparison with the standard fixed dose benzodiazepine regimen. Emerg Med J 2012; 29:802.
- Hecksel KA, Bostwick JM, Jaeger TM, Cha SS. Inappropriate use of symptom-triggered therapy for alcohol withdrawal in the general hospital. Mayo Clin Proc 2008; 83:274.
- DeBellis R, Smith BS, Choi S, Malloy M. Management of delirium tremens. J Intensive Care Med 2005; 20:164.
- Juan Francisco Rodríguez López, Cristina García Blázquez Pérez. Trastornos relacionados con el consumo de alcohol. Manual de diagnóstico y terapéutica médica Hospital Universitario 12 de octubre. 6ª edición. 2007. 1076: 1085.
- Schuckit MA. Alcohol y alcoholismo. Harrison. Manual de Medicina. 16º edición. 1033-1035.
Dr. Elvira Moreno
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