Alcohol Flashcards
What is higher risk drinking?
Regularly consuming over 35 units per week
What is increased risk drinking?
Regularly consuming between 15 and 35 units per week
What is harmful use of alcohol
A pattern of psychoactive substance use that is causing damage to health (Physical or mental)
What is alcohol dependence syndrome?
Strong desire or sense of compulsion to take a drug
Difficulty in controlling use of substance in terms of onset, termination or level of use
What is the most common cause of raised MCV?
Alcoholism
What is the FRAMES guide
Feedback Responsibility Advice Menu Empathy Self efficacy
WHen should someone be referred for specialist treatment?
Sign of moderate or severe alcohol dependance
Failure to benefit from brief advice
Show signs of severe alcohol related impariment or comorbidity
What is detoxification?
The process by which patients become alcohol free
What is relapse prevention?
A combo of psychosocial and pharmacological interventions aimed at maintaining abstinence or problem free drinking following detox
Molecular basis of alcohol withdrawal?
Alcohol inhibits excitatory NMDA glutamate ion channels (Chronic use–> Upregulation)
Alcohol potentiates actions of GABA ion channels (Chronic use –> Downregulation)
Withdrawal–> excess glutamate activity and reduced GABA
Excess glutamate toxic to nerve cells
Acute withdrawal leads to CNS excitability and neurotoxicity.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Restless Tremor Sweating Anxiety N and V Insomnia Loss of appetite
Clin signs of withdrawal?
Tachycardia
Systolic hypertension
What is delirium tremens?
Following alcohol withdrawal
Confusion, disorientation, agitation, hypertension, fever, visual, auditory hallucinations
Management of alcohol withdrawal?
BZD Vitamin supplementation (Thiamine to protect from Wernicke's encephalopathy)
What medications can be given to prevent relapses?
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Acamprosate
Naltrexone
