Alcohol withdrawal overview

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Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Alcohol withdrawal from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

Alcohol Withdrawal Calculator

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

CT

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shakiba Hassanzadeh, MD[2] Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [3]

Overview

Alcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that can occur when a person who has been drinking alcohol every day suddenly stops drinking alcohol.


Overview

Alcohol withdrawal occurs with sudden discontinuation of alcohol intake after consumption of large quantities of alcohol for more than two weeks. The incidence of alcohol dependence is approximately 8 million individuals, annually, in the United States, and about 50% of them experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms with decreased or discontinuation of alcohol consumption. Common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, headache, diaphoresis, tremor, and the most severe symptoms in alcohol withdrawal include hallucinosis, seizures, and delirium tremens (DT). Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal usually resolve within seven days of alcohol intake discontinuation. Most patients with alcohol withdrawal have mild symptoms and may be treated with outpatient management. 5% of patients with alcohol withdrawal will present with severe alcohol withdrawal characteristics including seizures and delirium tremens (DT). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria is used to diagnose alcohol withdrawal. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-A) scale is used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines are currently the gold standard treatment of alcohol withdrawal such as diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam, and oxazepam. Other drugs that may be used are phenobarbital, propofol, and dexmedetomidine. Thiamine is usually administered for prevention of Wernicke encephalopathy (prior to glucose administration).

Historical Perspective

Classification

Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) may be classified as:[1]

  • Uncomplicated withdrawal (first 6 hours)
  • Alcohol hallucinosis  (8-12 hours)
  • Alcohol withdrawal seizures (12-24 hours)
  • Alcohol withdrawal delirium (24-72 hours)

Pathophysiology

Under normal conditions in the brain, there is a balance between excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate and inhibitory neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).[2]

Chronic alcohol intake and acute discontinuation of alcohol intake affect the balance of the neurotransmitters and cause many of the symptoms observed in alcohol withdrawal.[3] [4][1][2]

Acute Alcohol Consumption

Chronic Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol Withdrawal in Chronic Alcohol Consumption

Causes

Alcohol withdrawal occurs with sudden discontinuation of alcohol intake after consumption of large quantities of alcohol for more than two weeks.[12]

Differentiating Alcohol Withdrawal from Other Diseases

Alcohol withdrawal must also be differentiated from other diseases including:[13]

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Risk factors for alcohol withdrawal include:[13]

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

  • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria is used to diagnose alcohol withdrawal.[13]
  • The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-A) scale is used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal.[18]

History and Symptoms

The most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:[2]

The most severe symptoms in alcohol withdrawal include [2]

Physical Examination

Signs to consider in the physical examination of patients with alcohol withdrawal may include:[1]

Laboratory Findings

Routine laboratory tests should include:[3]

CT scan

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

The medical management of alcohol withdrawal includes:[4][3]

Surgery

Surgical intervention is not recommended for the management of alcohol withdrawal.

Primary Prevention

Refraining from sudden and abrupt discontinuation of alcohol intake in individuals with alcohol dependence may be considered in the primary prevention of alcohol withdrawal.

Secondary Prevention

Long-term abstinence may be considered in the secondary prevention of alcohol withdrawal. Abstinence requires enrollment in long-term treatment programs in order to reduce the risk of relapse, such as:[22][12]

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

  • In all possible cases, outpatient detoxification and treatment is the most cost effective. [23]
  • Outpatient treatment costs $175 to $388 per patient.
  • Inpatient treatment costs $3,319 to $3,665 per patient.

Future or Investigational Therapies

Further studies are required for:[2][24]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wolf C, Curry A, Nacht J, Simpson SA (2020). "Management of Alcohol Withdrawal in the Emergency Department: Current Perspectives". Open Access Emerg Med. 12: 53–65. doi:10.2147/OAEM.S235288. PMC 7093658 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 32256131 Check |pmid= value (help).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Saitz R (1998). "Introduction to alcohol withdrawal". Alcohol Health Res World. 22 (1): 5–12. PMC 6761824 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 15706727.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mirijello A, D'Angelo C, Ferrulli A, Vassallo G, Antonelli M, Caputo F; et al. (2015). "Identification and management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome". Drugs. 75 (4): 353–65. doi:10.1007/s40265-015-0358-1. PMC 4978420. PMID 25666543.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Schmidt KJ, Doshi MR, Holzhausen JM, Natavio A, Cadiz M, Winegardner JE (2016). "Treatment of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal". Ann Pharmacother. 50 (5): 389–401. doi:10.1177/1060028016629161. PMID 26861990.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Goodman, Louis (2011). Goodman & Gilman's pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-162442-8. OCLC 498979404.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Nelson, Lewis (2011). Goldfrank's toxicologic emergencies. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 978-0-07-160594-6. OCLC 470694511.
  7. Kosten TR, O'Connor PG (2003). "Management of drug and alcohol withdrawal". N Engl J Med. 348 (18): 1786–95. doi:10.1056/NEJMra020617. PMID 12724485.
  8. Hall W, Zador D (1997). "The alcohol withdrawal syndrome". Lancet. 349 (9069): 1897–900. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)04572-8. PMID 9217770.
  9. McKeon A, Frye MA, Delanty N (2008). "The alcohol withdrawal syndrome". J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 79 (8): 854–62. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.128322. PMID 17986499.
  10. Lejoyeux M, Solomon J, Adès J (1998). "Benzodiazepine treatment for alcohol-dependent patients". Alcohol Alcohol. 33 (6): 563–75. doi:10.1093/alcalc/33.6.563. PMID 9872344.
  11. Reoux JP, Saxon AJ, Malte CA, Baer JS, Sloan KL (2001). "Divalproex sodium in alcohol withdrawal: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial". Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 25 (9): 1324–9. PMID 11584152.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Muncie HL, Yasinian Y, Oge' L (2013). "Outpatient management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome". Am Fam Physician. 88 (9): 589–95. PMID 24364635.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association. 2013. ISBN 0890425558.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Schuckit MA (2009). "Alcohol-use disorders". Lancet. 373 (9662): 492–501. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60009-X. PMID 19168210.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Schuckit MA (2014). "Recognition and management of withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens)". N Engl J Med. 371 (22): 2109–13. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1407298. PMID 25427113.
  16. 16.0 16.1 VICTOR M, ADAMS RD (1953). "The effect of alcohol on the nervous system". Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis. 32: 526–73. PMID 13134661.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Cutshall BJ (1965). "The Saunderssutton syndrome: an analysis of delirium tremens". Q J Stud Alcohol. 26 (3): 423–48. PMID 5858249.
  18. Sullivan JT, Sykora K, Schneiderman J, Naranjo CA, Sellers EM (1989). "Assessment of alcohol withdrawal: the revised clinical institute withdrawal assessment for alcohol scale (CIWA-Ar)". Br J Addict. 84 (11): 1353–7. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1989.tb00737.x. PMID 2597811.
  19. Maes M, Vandoolaeghe E, Degroote J, Altamura C, Roels C, Hermans P (2000). "Linear CT-scan measurements in alcohol-dependent patients with and without delirium tremens". Alcohol. 20 (2): 117–23. doi:10.1016/s0741-8329(99)00066-x. PMID 10719790.
  20. Bleich S, Sperling W, Degner D, Graesel E, Bleich K, Wilhelm J; et al. (2003). "Lack of association between hippocampal volume reduction and first-onset alcohol withdrawal seizure. A volumetric MRI study". Alcohol Alcohol. 38 (1): 40–4. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agg017. PMID 12554606.
  21. Hillmer AT, Mason GF, Fucito LM, O'Malley SS, Cosgrove KP (2015). "How Imaging Glutamate, γ-Aminobutyric Acid, and Dopamine Can Inform the Clinical Treatment of Alcohol Dependence and Withdrawal". Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 39 (12): 2268–82. doi:10.1111/acer.12893. PMC 4712074. PMID 26510169.
  22. Blondell RD (2005). "Ambulatory detoxification of patients with alcohol dependence". Am Fam Physician. 71 (3): 495–502. PMID 15712624.
  23. Hayashida M, Alterman AI, McLellan AT, O'Brien CP, Purtill JJ, Volpicelli JR, Raphaelson AH, Hall CP (1989). "Comparative effectiveness and costs of inpatient and outpatient detoxification of patients with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome". The New England Journal of Medicine. 320 (6): 358–65. doi:10.1056/NEJM198902093200605. PMID 2913493. Retrieved 2012-08-16. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. Fiellin DA, Samet JH, O'Connor PG (1998). "Reducing Bias in Observational Research on Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome". Subst Abus. 19 (1): 23–31. doi:10.1080/08897079809511370. PMID 12511804.