If you need to support someone through withdrawal, talk to a doctor (you can search for a doctor in your region here), another health professional, or a drug and alcohol service before starting.
It is important to start the process in a safe and secure environment, such as at home, a detox facility or hospital. How can I help someone through withdrawal? Symptoms can last for a few days or weeks, but they will eventually stop. Severe withdrawal symptoms, especially for drugs and alcohol, can include paranoia, confusion, tremors and disorientation. The person may be hot and cold, have goosebumps, or have a runny nose as if they have a cold. Symptoms can include insomnia, irritability, changing moods, depression, anxiety, aches and pains, cravings, fatigue, hallucinations and nausea.
This was the only treatment with statistically significant findings. PAN (psychotropic analgesic nitrous oxide) involves administering low levels of nitrous oxide and oxygen gases so that the individual remains conscious and coherent.Ĭomparing the five treatments with placebo, benzodiazepines performed better for seizures (three studies, 324 participants, moderate quality of evidence). Baclofen and GHB mimic alcohol effects and can rapidly reduce symptoms. The treatments used were sedative benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, baclofen, GHB and PAN. These outcomes were considered in 72 of the 114 studies. We considered the efficacy of the medication on alcohol withdrawal seizures, adverse events as a measure of safety and acceptability of the treatment as dropouts from the study. Five reviews, 114 studies, 7333 participants, were included. Participants in the review studies varied in age, gender, nationality, severity of symptoms and treatment as outpatients or inpatients. Different types of medications are used to safely reduce the severity of withdrawal and the abuse of alcohol.Ĭochrane reviews of randomised controlled trials that examined the effectiveness and safety of medications for alcohol withdrawal syndrome were included in this overview. These are the result of changes in the central nervous system in an attempt to maintain normal function with alcohol consumption. The most common symptoms include sweating, a fast pulse rate, tremor, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, transient hallucinations or illusions, agitation, anxiety and seizures. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome develops after stopping or reducing heavy and prolonged alcohol use.
Dependence on alcohol is evident by reduced control over drinking, tolerance to alcohol and withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol abuse and dependence can cause serious health problems as well as interpersonal, social, interpersonal and legal consequences.