Definition

The medical corps has a variety relatively important to allow an alcoholic to consider a detox. The withdrawal is a necessary decision of the toxicant occurs almost without the consent of the patient, performed under specific conditions (serious pathology) and in an unusual setting for the patient (hospital, sometimes Medical Office).

Medical technique

Drugs with pharmacological effects similar to those of alcohol are used. Benzodiazepines (such as diazepam or chlordiazepoxide) and meprobamates are much used (administered in France as infusion).Large doses of vitamin C and vitamins of Group B (including thiamine vitamin B 1 =) are administered quickly. Folic acid and vitamin B12 should be administered to prevent Wernicke and Korsakoff (encephalitis due to alcohol poisoning) syndrome. Dehydration (water loss) that often accompanies this type of pathology is combated through infusions containing saline and sweet liquids. The hallucinose and neurological complications are a drug containing of phenothiazines (chlorpromazine).Proper detoxification appealed almost exclusively to the will of the patient. Of course, psychological and psycho-emotional support is necessary to support the best possible therapeutic driving. After correcting nutritional deficits (food deficiency, vitamin B 1, etc..) that accompany alcohol, it is necessary to modify the behaviour of the patient while trying to remove (hard) first the drunkenness, in preventing the risk of relapse is common after a few weeks of abstinence, when the first crisis will be over. It is at this time that involved various therapeutic supports individual or group as (in France) Alcoholics Anonymous, Blue Cross, the golden cross and living free. Each group must be adapted to patient and vice versa. In each group, the patient must find common interests with other members, excess of alcohol. Most often, members of Alcoholics Anonymous are grouped according to common criteria (professional or other). The opportunity to meet with abstinent patients who become friends then forge a relationship between individuals for each insertion. The goal is to obtain the strengthening of self-esteem among others.Detoxification may be tempted by the alcohol itself, using a from the who programme entitled “drinking less is better”, approach to complete a questionnaire to calculate its score of consumption.

Evolution of the disease

The abstinence in chronic alcohol withdrawal syndrome.(Very large quantities of alcohol consumption causes, usually after a few years) a tolerance, or if one prefers an acceptance on the part of the body, comparable to that which is caused by the consumption of other drugs in the central nervous system called of depressants. In other words drinking alcohol is somehow equivalent to absorb substances such as opium, barbiturates, chemical drugs for sleep, benzodiazepines (Valium among others) etc.This means that, gradually the patient tends to increase doses that he uses to maintain the effects that he felt at the beginning when he was drinking small doses of alcohol. It is the same for other substances whether drugs or drugs, which is the same. Therefore, developing what is called a physical dependence which is generally cross between alcohol and other CNS depressant drugs.When the subject decides to stop his alcohol consumption occurs is called the withdrawal syndrome. It is characterized by the appearance of various symptoms that are (non-exhaustive list): nausea.Vomiting.Earthquakes.Disturbed activity of the vegetative nervous system (nervous system independent, automatic) which reflects its dysfunction that is its malfunction. It is more or less important perspiration (usually very important) of elevation of blood pressure, for an acceleration of heart rate (tachycardia) of an acceleration of the respiratory rate (tachypnea) of hyperthermia (excessive temperature).Insomnia.Anxiety.Agitation sometimes very important.Nocturnal disturbance type of nightmare most often.And paresthesia (tingling throughout the body so).The symptoms we just cite are likely to get worse and become complicated that is becoming much more intense. In some cases the patient is likely to also present an alcoholic withdrawal hallucinose. It is one or several crises (comparable in some kind of epilepsy) convulsive which occur 12 to 48 hours after the decision of the absorption of alcohol in subjects who have abused alcohol for several years. This condition is likely to be followed by the appearance of a delirium tremens. It is in the alcohol after a more abundant than usual alcohol consumption. Surgery, trauma or febrile infectious disease can also trigger the occurrence of a delirium tremens. Delirium tremens he begins by tremors, very important sweats, nausea, anxiety and irritability of the individual. Then it starts to shake and become confused. It is both euphoric and anxious. It describes small of visual hallucinations that he believes see images. They were a size smaller than in other hallucinations. They are accompanied by emission of sound or of other sounds. Some patients feel feel odours that do not exist. The temperature of the body generally also monte. The evolution of the delirium tremens is done in two to five days and, is notable, the mortality is between 8 and 12%.