alcohol withdrawal
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Karen Neoh. Alcohol withdrawal. Curriculum. 2.5 Management of Concurrent Clinical Problems Management of patients with pre-existing drug dependence 2.14 Management of Emergencies in Palliative Medicine Recognition and management of alcohol and drug withdrawal. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Karen Neoh
2.5 Management of Concurrent Clinical Problems Management of patients with pre-
existing drug dependence
2.14 Management of Emergencies in Palliative Medicine Recognition and management of alcohol
and drug withdrawal
2.15 Public Health Related to Palliative CareEffect of addictive and self harming behaviours on personal health, response to palliative intervention and symptom management
How big is the problem?NICE/LTHT guidance
Alcohol withdrawal Delirium tremens Wernicke’s encephalopathy
Assessment of alcohol intake (not just CAGE!)
UK - 24% of adults drink in a hazardous or harmful way
Highest in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber
26–28% of men, 16–18% of women
Approximately 20% of patients admitted to hospital for illnesses unrelated to alcohol are drinking at potentially hazardous levels
Tremor Sweating Agitation Irritability Insomnia
Anorexia and nausea
Increased heart rate and BP
Fever Anxiety
The care of adults and young people (aged 10 years and older) who have any of the following physical health problems that are completely or partly caused by alcohol use:
▪Acute alcohol withdrawal▪ Lack of thiamine (Wernicke’s
encephalopathy)▪ Liver disease▪ Pancreatitis
Consider offering a benzodiazepine or carbamazepine
Clomethiazole may be offered as an alternative
Oral chlordiazepoxide is the preferred choice of benzodiazepine as it has long half life, low potency and lower potential for abuse than diazepam.
The dose should be tailored to each patient dependent upon severity of withdrawal symptoms.
BNF Fixed dose reducing regime in primary
care Symptom triggered flexible regime in
hospital or other settings usually followed by a 5 day reducing dose schedule
10-50mg QDS reducing over 5-7 days 10-40mg PRN for the first 2 days Max 250mg/day Gradually reduce over 7-10days
Day Morning Midday Early evening Night (Total)
1 30mg 30mg 30mg 30mg 120mg
2 30mg 30mg 30mg 90mg
3 30mg 30mg 60mg
4 30mg 30mg
5 20mg 20mg
6 10mg 10mg
Breakthrough symptoms: chlordiazepoxide 5 mg - 10mg prn
Chlordiazepoxide and diazepam should be avoided as these drugs are metabolised by the liver and can accumulate.
Lorazepam should be used as an alternative. 500 micrograms- 1mg orally every 6 hours to a maximum of 8mg/24 hours.
Contact liver team for advice.
Diazepam 10mg slow IV repeated after 4 hours if necessary
Lorazepam 1mg-2mg IV repeated after 6 hours if necessary
If IV access is a problem rectal diazepam (as solution, not suppositories), 500 micrograms/kg (up to a max of 30mg)
If PO/IV/PR not possible, IM but erratic absorption
If patient remains agitated contact senior member of team or liason psychiatry.
Unlicensed for alcohol withdrawal but can be used as an alternative if benzodiazepines are contraindicated or not tolerated
800mg PO in divided doses, reduce gradually over 5 days to 200mg OD
Usual treatment duration 7-10 days
Licensed for use in acute alcohol withdrawal, benzodiazepines are preferred. Inpatient setting and abstinent.
Dose 2-4 capsules, can be repeated after some hours. Each capsule 192mg.
Day 1: 9-12 capsules in 3-4 divided doses Day 2: 6-8 capsules in 3-4 divided doses Day 3: 4-6 capsules in 3-4 divided doses Gradually reduce over 4-6 days and
treatment not for more than 9 days
Heminevrin brand nameSedative/hypnoticUsed for agitation, restlessness,
short-term insomniaGood in the elderly as no hangover
but can lead to dependence Alcohol combined with clomethiazole,
particularly in alcoholics with cirrhosis, can lead to fatal respiratory depression even with short-term use
The symptoms/signs differ from usual withdrawal in that there are signs of altered mental status. Hallucinations (auditory, visual, or
olfactory) Confusion Delusions Severe agitation
Oral lorazepam first-line If symptoms persist/oral medication
declined, give parenteral lorazepam, haloperidol or olanzapine
If DT develops in a person during treatment for acute alcohol withdrawal, review their withdrawal drug regimen
• Quick-acting benzodiazepine (lorazepam) to reduce the likelihood of further seizures
• If alcohol withdrawal seizures develop in a person during treatment for acute alcohol withdrawal, review their withdrawal drug regimen
• Do not offer phenytoin to treat alcohol withdrawal seizures
• Offer thiamine to people at high risk of developing, or with suspected, Wernicke's encephalopathy.
• Offer prophylactic oral thiamine to harmful or dependent drinkers:• if they are malnourished or at risk of
malnourishment or• if they have decompensated liver disease
or• if they are in acute withdrawal or• before and during a planned medically
assisted alcohol withdrawal.
Mild deficiency 25-100mg OD POSevere deficiency 200-300mg/day
PO in divided doses
IV high potency 2-3 pairs daily for 2 days
If no response stop If improves IV/IM high potency 1 pair
daily for 5 days or as long as improvement continues
Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence.
A clinical guideline covering identification, assessment, pharmacological and psychological/psychosocial interventions, and the prevention and management of neuropsychiatric complications.
AUDIT – identification/outcome measure
SADQ (Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire )
or LDQ (Leeds Dependence Questionnaire) - severity of
dependence
CIWA (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment) - severity of withdrawal
APQ (Alcohol Problems Questionnaire) for the nature and extent of the problems arising from alcohol misuse.
1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? 2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical
day when you are drinking?3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? 4. How often during the last year have you found that you almost
were not able to stop drinking daily once you had started?5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was
normally expected of daily you because of drinking?6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in
the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?
9. Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?
10.Has a relative, friend, doctor, other health care worker been concerned about your drinking last year last year
• The AUDIT-C uses the first 3 questions only.
• Using a cutoff of ≥3, AUDIT-C identifies 90% of patients with active alcohol abuse or dependence and 98% of patients with heavy drinking
• A score of ≥3 on the AUDIT-C or a report of drinking 6 or more drinks on one occasion ever in the last year, should lead to a more detailed assessment of drinking problems (completion of the full questionnaire)
Thank you
publications.nice.org.uk/alcohol-use-disorders-diagnosis-and-clinical-management-of-alcohol-related-physical-complications-cg100/introduction
www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13337/53194/53194.pdf
LTHT. The management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Sarah Skitt (Lead medical Admissions Pharmacist) and Dr Michael Mansfield(Consultant Physician)
Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary. [64] ed. London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press; [2012]