Alcoholism: Withdrawal Syndrome

If you are an alcoholic person, don't be surprise if you experiencing one of the following...

• sedation, decreased inhibition
• relaxation, decreased coordination
• impaired judgment, slowed reflexes
• slurred speech, euphoria
• sexual dysfunction
  

Withdrawal Syndrome:

• Anorexia, irritability, nausea, tremors, insomnia
• tachycardia, increased blood pressure, increased temperature
• diaphoresis, tactile hallucination, delirium tremens

Severe Withdrawal Syndrome:

1. Delirium Tremens
- most serious form of alcohol withdrawal
- onset: acute (6 to 8 hours from last drink and is life-threatening)
- seizure, confusion, disorientation
- ANS hyper-arousal (hyperpyrexia, hypertension, tachycardia, coarse tremors, agitation, cardiovascular collapse)
- Drug of choice is benzodiazepine

2. Wernicke's Encephalopathy
- cause by thiamine deficiency (vit. B1) - alcoholics vitamin B1 is depleted
- reversible
- onset: acute
- palsy of 6th cranial nerve leading to nystagmus
- C- onfusion
- O- opthalmoplegia
- A - ataxia
- T - thiamine deficiency

3. Korsakoff's Syndrome
- chronic irreversible disorder following Wernicke's encephalopathy
- memory loss, learning deficit, confabulation
- M - memory disturbances
- R - retrograde amnesia
- A - anterograde amnesia
- C - confabulation
- K - Korsakoff's psychosis

Long Term Goals of Care for Alcoholic patients

C - community resources and support system
O - other means of coping
P - personal decision to avoid alcohol
I - increased self esteem
N- nutrition - vit B & C and CHO diet
G - group therapy: to enable the patient to develop insight into his problem

Priority Nursing Diagnosis
- ineffective individual coping

Nursing Care:

• provide a well lighted room
• diet as tolerated
• monitor vital signs
• administration of glucose and vitamin supplements

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how to treat alcoholism?

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