Alcohol misuse Flashcards
What is the difference between intoxication, harmful alcohol use and alcohol dependency
Intoxication = dose-dependent, transient state following use
Harmful = pattern of use that is likely to cause physical or psychological damage, non-dependent and continues despite established harm (social, mental, etc.). evident over a period of at least 12 months if substance use is episodic or at least 1 month if use is continuous
Dependence = need to use a substance to feel or function normally after a period of regular use (≥3 of 6 features of dependency)
How are units of alcohol calculated
Units = % ABV (alcohol by volume) x Volume (Litres)
What is the UK maximum for alcohol consumption and what is the threshold for hazardous and harmful drinking
14 units a week
Hazardous = 15-35
Harmful = >35
Define binge drinking
> 8 units for men
6 units for women
What are the symptoms of low levels of alcohol intake
Relaxing lowers inhibitions, makes people feel sociable and cheerful
What are the symptoms of high levels of alcohol intake
Slurred speech
Poor coordination
Exaggerated emotions e.g. hilarity, tearfulness, misery, irritability
Disinhibition
Impulsivity
Poor judgement
Blackouts with amnesia for the drinking period
What are the symptoms of severe levels of alcohol intake (alcohol poisoning)
Vomiting
Ataxia
Respiratory depression
Confusion
Coma
Death
What is the 12 month and lifetime prevalence of alcohol use disorder
12 month: 1.3%
Lifetime: 5.4%
What are the features of dependence
A strong desire or sense of compulsion to use
Difficulty in controlling use.
A physiological withdrawal state when use has ceased or been reduced.
Evidence of tolerance.
Progressive neglect of alternative pleasures and interests.
Persistence with use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequences.
Define alcohol withdrawal
Withdrawal from alcohol in patients who are alcohol-dependent and have stopped or reduced their alcohol intake within hours or days of presentation
What is the pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal
Chronic alcohol use results in up-regulation of post-synaptic NMDA receptors and down-regulation of post-synaptic GABA receptors. A sudden decrease in blood ethanol concentration results in an imbalance between stimulatory NMDA and inhibitory GABA systems in the CNS
Abrupt alcohol cessation leads to overactivation of the excitatory NMDA system relative to the GABA system
→ Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system
What are the symptoms of withdrawal 6 hours post-drink
Anxiety/agitation
Palpitations
GI upset: nausea, pain
Sweating and tremor
Headache
Insomnia
What are the symptoms of withdrawal 12 hours post-drink
Hallucinations: visual/tactile (usually insects on the skin)
Restlessness
Normal mental status
What are the symptoms of withdrawal 36-46 hours post-drink
Confusion, agitation
Seizures: short, generalised, tonic-clonic
What are the symptoms of withdrawal 48-72 hours hours post-drink
Delirium tremens:
- Profound confusion/delirium
- Visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations, characteristically frightening
- Lilliputian hallucinations (seeing little people) are characteristic.
- Insects on the skin
- Tactile: itch, burn, insects crawling
- Pins and needles, burning and numbness
- Coarse tremor
- Fever, tachycardia
What are the signs of alcohol use disorder on examination
Obs: Hyper/hypotension, tachycardia
General: obs
Abdominal:
Palmar erythema
Clubbing
Bruising
Dupuytren’s contracture
Spider naevi
Gynaecomastia
Caput medusa
Hepatomegaly
Ascites
What assessment tools can be used to screen for alcohol-use disorder
Fast alcohol screening test (FAST) → score of ≥ 3 is positive and would require further screening i.e. AUDIT
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test -
- Consumption (AUDIT-C): >5 = positive
- AUDIT: full version, takes much longer, harmful use >16, possible dependence >20
Paddington alcohol test 2011 (PAT)
SADQ (Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire)- use if scored > 15 on AUDIT
CIWA-Ar ( Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol)
GMAWS ( Glasgow Modified Alcohol Withdrawal)
What investigations should be done for alcohol use disorder
Bedside: ECG (investigate any tachycardia, urine toxicology)
Bloods:
- VBG (hypochloraemic metabolic acidosis with high anion gap)
- glucose (hypoglycaemia)
- FBC (Macrocytic anaemia)
- U&Es (hypoMg+,K+,PO4)
- LFTs (elevated transaminases and GGT, AST/ALT ratio >2)
- Bone profile: hypoCa2+, hypovit D
- Coagulation screen: prolonged INR/PT due to CLD
- Amylase: exclude acute pancreatitis
Others:
suspected head injury, seizure, altered cognition → CT head
What are the features of severe alcohol withdrawal
A high or worsening CIWA-Ar score
Failure to improve after two doses of benzodiazepines
Alcohol withdrawal delirium
Alcohol withdrawal seizure
Deranged temperature or deranged BP or deranged blood glucose, alongside any feature or alcohol withdrawal
What are the complications of alcohol use disorder
Liver disease: Fatty liver → alcoholic hepatitis → cirrhosis
GI: pancreatitis, oesophageal varices, mallory-Weiss tear, gastritis, peptic ulceration
Neurological: increased cerebrovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, seizures, dementia, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, cerebellar degeneration
Cancer: Mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophageal, breast, bowel, liver, pancreas
Cardiovascular: ischaemic heart disease, HTN, cardiomyopathy
Head injury and accidents
Foetal alcohol syndrome
Depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide
Cognitive impairment
Alcoholic hallucinosis: Auditory hallucinations during or after heavy drinking. oFten persecutory or derogatory
Morbid jealous: overvalued delusion of a partner’s infidelity
Social impairment: unemployment, poor work attendance, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, divorce, criminal acts
What is the prognosis for alcohol misuse
withdrawal symptoms are worst within the first 48 hours and take 3-7 days after the last drink to completely disappear
Delirium tremens-related mortality is <1% if early and treated, but fatal in 15-20% of patients if untreated
50% of patients remain abstinent from alcohol for a year
What is the management for acute alcohol withdrawal
Calculate CIWA-r score
1. Supportive care + treatment of any acute medical illness
a. Place in quiet room
b. Correct metabolic abnormalities, IV fluids if dehydrated
c. Electrolyte imbalance treatment
2. Thiamine - Pabrinex IV
3. Benzodiazepine (i.e. chlordiazepoxide), carbamazepine, clomethiazole
4. Consider glucose if hypoglycaemia
5. Airway management if required
What is the management for delirium tremens
1st Line: PO Lorazepam
Second line: If symptoms persist, offer IV lorazepam or haloperidol
Alternative: chlordiazepoxide
+ IV Thiamine
What is the management for alcohol withdrawal seizures
Consider fast-acting benzodiazepine (e.g. Lorazepam) to reduce the likelihood of future seizures
Offer advice on local support services
