17 Million People with AUD (alcohol use disorder)
85,000 people die from alcohol related causes in the U.S. (NIaaa)
500,000 epidodes of withdrawal requiring medication per year
15-36% people admitted to hospitals have auds
8% general hospital admissions get withdrawal
16% post surgical patients get withdrawal
Symptoms appear within 6-36 hours of last drink
13-71 % of alcohol dependent patients experience symptoms
Caused by autonomic hyperactivity
Occur within 12-48 hours of last drink
3-10% people in withdrawal develop hallucinations
Duration varies
Usually visual (pink elephants
Occasionally auditory, tactile (fornication), or olfactory
Occurs within 6-48 hours of last drink
3-15% of untreated suffer grand mal seizures
Rish increased by duration of alcohol abuse
40% are single, (home alone)
30% of untreated go on to delirium tremens (dts)
Begins 3-5 days after last drink
Occurs in less than 5% of withdrawal
Marked by disorientation and global confusion
Mortality 2-10%
Death—cardiovascular, metabolic, or infection
Reduce symptoms
Prevent seizures
Prevent delirium tremens
Prevent medical complications
Taken from: http://www.acponline.org/about_acp/chapters/mt/bsky12_kronenberger.pdf NIAAA
By: Raging Alcoholic