Alcohol Abuse Basics
What type of substance is alcohol classified as?
What is a central nervous system depressant.
Name three mild symptom of alcohol withdrawal.
Tremors,anxiety, sweating, or nausea.
What class of medication is the first-line treatment for alcohol withdrawal?
What is Benzodiazepines.
What is the primary nursing goal during alcohol withdrawal?
Ensure patient safety and prevent withdrawal complications.
When are seizures most likely to occur?
What is within 24–72 hours after the last drink.
Which neurotransmitters are affected by chronic alcohol use?
What is GABA (increased) and glutamate (decreased)
At what point in the withdrawal timeline do hallucinations typically occur?
What is 24–48 hours after last drink?
What are some examples of benzodiazepines used to treat alcohol withdrawal in the inpatient/ER setting?
What is Librium, Valium, or Ativan
What safety measures should be in place for a patient at risk of seizures?
Padded bed rails, suction available, side-lying position.
What is Wernicke’s encephalopathy caused by?
What is Thiamine deficiency?
How soon after the last drink can symptoms begin?
What is 4-12 hours?
Name all vital signs are often elevated during withdrawal?
What is Heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.
What medications (besides benzos) might be used to control seizures from alcohol withdrawal?
What is depokote, carbamazepine (anti-convulsants)?
What assessment tool is used to measure withdrawal severity?
What is CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol).
What cardiac complication can result from alcohol withdrawal?
What is dysrhythmias due to autonomic instability.
What happens to the central nervous system when alcohol is suddenly removed?
It becomes hyperexcitable, leading to tremors, anxiety, and seizures.
What are the three types of hallucinations that can occur during withdrawal?
What are visual hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, and tactile disturbances?
What two organs are commonly affected by chronic alcohol consumption?
What are the liver and pancreas?
What CIWA-Ar score indicates severe withdrawal?
What is a score > 15?
Name 3 signs that would indicate the onset of Delirium Tremens?
What is severe agitation, confusion, fever, hallucinations, hypertension, tachycardia?
Explain the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence
Alcohol abuse is harmful use without physical dependence.
Alcohol dependence involves tolerance, withdrawal, and loss of control over drinking.
List at least three symptoms of Delirium Tremens.
What is severe confusion, agitation, hallucinations, fever, hypertension, seizures, diaphoresis.
Which two electrolyte imbalances are most commonly associated with alcohol withdrawal seizures?
What is Hypomagnesemia and hypokalemia?
We prevent agitation, hallucinations, and escalation to DTs by doing what nursing intervention?
What is reducing environmental stimuli?
Name one medication used to support long-term alcohol recovery and how it works.
Disulfiram (antabuse) – causes unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed (aversion therapy).
Acamprosate (Campral): Helps a pt to maintain abstinence from alcohol