Alcohol symposium? Flashcards
What is harmful use of alcohol?
Pattern of use causing damage to health
Use > 1 month or repeatedly over 12 months
What is alcohol dependence?
3 or more of
cravings/compulsions, primacy, difficulty controlling use, increased tolerance, physiological withdrawal, persistence for > 1 month or repeatedly over 12 months
What is withdrawal state?
Group of symptoms of variable clustering & severity on complete/relative withdrawal of a psychoactive substance
What are symptoms of withdrawal state?
Tremor, weakness, N+V, anxiety, seizures, confusion, agitation, death
What is delirium tremens?
Profound confusion, tremor, agitation, hallucinations, delusions, sleeplessness
5% mortality - CVS collapse, infection, seizures, self injury
How do you manage withdrawal state?
Benzodiazepines
What is Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Caused by thiamine deficiency
confusion, ataxia, opthalmoplegia, nystagmus
Treat with IM thiamine
Can progress to Korsakoff’s psychosis
What is Korsakoff’s psychosis?
Retrograde amnesia, decreased recent and remote memory
Give thiamine, 25% have improvement
What are screening tools for alcohol?
CAGE
AUDIT
FAST
PAT
What medication can be used in alcohol dependency?
Aversion/deterrent - disulfiram
Anti-craving - acamprostate
