alcohol abuse and withdrawal syndrome in the elderly presentation

8/13/2019 Alcohol Abuse and Withdrawal Syndrome in the Elderly Presentation

1/10

ALCOHOL ABUSE AND

WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME IN

THE ELDERLY


2/10

What to look for

Healthcare professionals need to have an

understanding of what to look for in an elderly

client who may be showing signs of alcohol

abuse By knowing and understanding the definition,

signs and symptoms, diagnosis and

treatment, and prevention of alcohol abuse

and withdrawal syndromehealth-careprofessionals make themselves better prepared

to meet the needs of these clients.


3/10


4/10

DEFINTION:

Alcohol abuse is defined as continued use

of the substance despite social, economic,

or legal pressures. Alcohol dependence is

defined as alcohol abuse in conjunction

with physiological manifestations, such as

tolerance, or the requirement of greater

amounts to achieve the same desiredeffects. (Wan et., al 2012).


5/10

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The most serious symptom of alcohol withdrawalsyndrome is delirium tremens (DTs).

AWS (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) eventuallywill progress to tachycardia, diaphoresis, and

hypertension as the withdrawal to the bodyworsens. Clinical symptoms can begin within six-eight hours, but the DTs typically do notprogress until after 2 or more days.

Symptoms may progress to more severe formscharacterized by seizures and coma; in theseforms, cardiac arrest and death occurs in 5 % to10 % of patients.


6/10

When withdrawal symptoms may

appear:

Signs and symptoms: Onset after last drink

Minor withdrawal: 6 to 36 hours

Seizures: 6 to 48 hours

Alcoholic hallucinosis: 12 to 48 hours

DTs: 48 to 96 hours


7/10

Diagnosis

Treatment can start as soon as those at

risk are recognized.

Questionnaires and scales exist to aide

healthcare professionals in identifying

patients at risk for alcohol abuse and

AWS.


8/10


9/10

Treatment

The most commonly used treatment for Alcohol

Withdrawal Syndrome is benzodiazepines. They

are considered the foundation of alcohol

withdrawal management. Acting both by treatingagitation and by preventing progression of

withdrawal to seizures and dts.

Lorazepam, Diazepam, Midazolam and

chloridiazepoxide are most often embraced byhealthcare providers in treating AWS.


10/10

Prevention:

Prevention of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome is importantto the continued care of elderly patients who abusealcohol.

Baclofen is currently being studied as a method ofpreventing the desire for alcohol which, in turn, woulddecrease the incidence of AWS.

It is important for healthcare providers to look forbehaviors in the elderly that make them risks for AlcoholWithdrawal Syndrome.

A patient with a history of alcohol abuse, excessive dailyconsumption of alcohol, AWS or DTs, or early signs ofalcohol withdrawal symptoms would be a high risk for

AWS.

alcohol abuse and withdrawal syndrome in the elderly presentation

Documents