MANAGEMENT OF THE ALCOHOL-WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

People who suffer acute alcohol withdrawal should be admitted to a hospital if they have a concurrent medical or surgical complication or severe symptoms. Careful assessment, supportive care, and pharmacotherapy, especially loading with a long half-life benzodiazepine such as diazepam, are the essential components of treatment. Patients with milder withdrawal can be managed effectively and safely on an out-patient basis or with nonmedical treatment. The need for pharmacotherapy should be determined on an individual basis. The management of alcohol withdrawal includes offering and initiating long-term treatment to reduce alcohol consumption.