Alcohol Withdrawal Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is the recommendation for weekly alcohol intake?

A

14 units per week

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2
Q

If people drink 14 units, how should this be spread over the week?

A

Should be spread evenly over >3 days

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3
Q

What is ‘harmful drinking’?

A

Harmful drinking: causes health problems directly related to alcohol (e.g. depression, alcohol-related accidents, acute pancreatitis)

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4
Q

What is alcohol dependence characterised by?

A

Craving, tolerance, pre-occupation with alcohol and continued drinking in spite of harmful consequences

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5
Q

What diagnostic tool can be used to identify the presence of an alcohol use disorder (AUD)

A

DSM-V

diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

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6
Q

What is Wernicke’s encephalopathy?

A

AUD associated with THIAMINE DEFICIENCY

Ocular motility disorders, ataxia and confusion

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7
Q

What is Korsakoff’s psychosis?

A

amnesia, disorientation + confabulation (where made-up stories will in gaps in memory)

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8
Q

What is the cause of alcohol withdrawal reactions?

A

Stopping or reducing alcohol intake

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9
Q

What is the pathophysiology behind alcohol withdrawal?

A

Decreased responsiveness of GABA receptors in the brain

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10
Q

What are the 3 classifications of alcohol withdrawal severity?

A

Mild
Moderate
Severe/ delerium tremens

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11
Q

When may mild/ moderate symptoms of withdrawal start?

When do they peak?

A

4-6 hours after the last drink

Peak at 24-36 hours

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12
Q

When do severe symptoms occur?

When do they peak?

A

24 hours after the last drink

Peak at day 2

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13
Q

When does delerium tremens generally occur?

A

After 3 days of abstinence/ decreased drinking

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14
Q

Alcohol withdrawal: mild severity

A

HTN, tachycardia, anorexia, anxiety, insomnia, irritability , headache
FINE TREMOR

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15
Q

Alcohol withdrawal: moderate severity

A

Worsening mild symptoms PLUS

AGITATION + COARSE TREMOR

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16
Q

Alcohol withdrawal: severe/ delerium tremens

A

Worsening moderate symptoms PLUS

CONFUSION, DELERIUM, GENERALISED TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES, HALLUCINATIONS + HYPERTHERMIA

17
Q

What may be the first manifestation of alcohol withdrawal for some people?

A

Seizures

18
Q

What assessment tool should be used to assess the nature and severity of alcohol misuse?

A

AUDIT (alcohol use disorders identification test)

19
Q

What is CIWA-Ar?

A

clinical institute withdrawal assessment for alcohol scale

Tool used to objectify the severity of withdrawal and guide therapy

20
Q

How should alcohol withdrawal be approached?

A

ABCDE!

21
Q

How is withdrawal medically managed?

A

Benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide) for sedation and seizure control

22
Q

What nutritional support should be given in alochol withdrawal?

A

Thiamine
Folate
Glucose

23
Q

Which benzo is commonly given for alcohol withdrawal?

A

Chlordiazepoxide