Alcohol dependance Flashcards
1
Q
what are the 7 key features of alcohol dependance?
A
- compulsion to drink
- primacy of drinking over other activities
- stereotyped pattern of drinking
- increased tolerance to alcohol
- repeated withdrawal symptoms
- relief drinking to avoid withdrawal
- reinstatement after abstinence
2
Q
what are alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
A
- agitation
- tremor (the shakes)
- sweating
- nausea
- retching
3
Q
When does delirium tremens tend to occur?
what are the symptoms?
A
- 1-3 days after stopping
- clouded consciousness (delirium)
- disorientation of time and place
- impairment of recent memory
- fear, agitation and restlessness
- vivd hallucinations (lilliputian)
- paranoid delusions
- insomnia
- autonomic dysfunction (Tachycardia, hyperthermia, hypertension, stating, dilated pupils)
- coarse tremor
- n and v
- dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
- seizures
4
Q
What is the classic triad of wernickes?
A
- confusion
- ataxia
- ocular palsy
5
Q
what symptoms are there of wernicke korsakoffs?
A
- impaired consciousness and confusion
- episodic memory loss
- ataxia, nystagmus
- abducens and conjugate gaze palsy
- pupillary abnormalities, peripheral neuropathy
6
Q
What happens when the patient develops korsakoffs?
A
- irreversible syndrome of impairment of recent memory
- confabulation is common and immediate recall, perception and cognitive functions are normally intact
