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Pharmacological Management of Alcohol Withdrawal
JAMA 278:144-151, Mayo-Smith,M.F., 1997
See this aricle in Pubmed

Article Abstract
Benzodiazepines reduce withdrawal severity,reduce incidence of delirium(- 4.9 cases per 100 patients;95%confidence interval,-9.0 to-.07;P=.04)and reduce seizures(-7.7 seizures per 100 patients;95%confidence interval,-12. 0 to-.3.5;P=.003).Individualizing therapy with withdrawal scales results in administration of significantly less medication and shorter treatment (P<.001).Beta blockers,clonidine,and carbamazepine ameliorate withdrawal severity,but evidence is inadequate to determine their effect on delirium and seizures.Phenothiazines ameliorate withdrawal but are less effective than benzodiazepines in reducing delirium(P=.002)or seizures(P<.001). Benzodiazepines are suitable agents guided by duration of action,rapidity of onset,and cost.Dosage should be individualized,based on withdrawal severity measured by withdrawal scales,comorbid illness,and history of withdrawal seizures.Beta blockers,clonidine,carbamazepine,and neuroleptics may be used as adjunctive therapy but are not recommended as monotherapy.
 
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alcohol drip
alcoholic withdrawal states,DT's,convulsions,etc.
benzodiazepine
practice guidelines
prevention of neurologic disorders
review article
seizure
seizure,prevention of
seizure,withdrawal
treatment of neurologic disorder

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