Psychopharmacological management of acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms. A review

Abstract

Evidence based medicine suggest that implementations of a clinical protocol for the management of acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms improves patient’s outcome. Clinical guidelines were developed by several institutions mainly to ensure high quality, person centered, and safe management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms with a large variation in the local practice especially in the management of unplanned alcohol withdrawal with regards to the regime, choice of benzodiazepines and appropriate vitamin supplementation. Various health organizations advise integration of training for alcohol withdrawal management. Timely assessments and staff education increase patient monitoring, create a safer and caring environment, reduce the risks including agitation to staff and other patients and enhance the quality of care. This review looked at the various National Health Services Hospitals with guidelines and protocols providing a comprehensive review for the acute management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.