Which Withdrawal Can Kill: Alcohol, Benzos, and the Ones That Just Hurt

🧠 Why it matters

ALCOHOL withdrawal begins 6 to 12 hours after the last drink: tremor, anxiety, sweating, tachycardia, hypertension, insomnia. Hallucinations can appear at 12 to 48 hours, withdrawal SEIZURES anywhere from about 6 to 48 hours, and DELIRIUM TREMENS at about 48 to 96 hours (2 to 4 days), with severe confusion, agitation, fever and autonomic instability; DTs can be fatal. Treat with BENZODIAZEPINES such as lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide, usually guided by a CIWA score, give THIAMINE before or with glucose to prevent Wernicke's encephalopathy, and provide a quiet, well-lit room with seizure precautions. BENZODIAZEPINE withdrawal is also dangerous, with seizures; taper, never stop abruptly. OPIOID withdrawal is miserable but rarely life-threatening: yawning, rhinorrhea, sweating, dilated pupils, piloerection, cramps, diarrhea and vomiting; treat with methadone or buprenorphine and symptomatic care such as clonidine. Opioid OVERDOSE, by contrast, is a respiratory emergency: pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression and sedation, reversed with NALOXONE, which may need repeating because it wears off faster than many opioids. STIMULANT withdrawal brings a crash with fatigue, depression and increased appetite; monitor for suicidal thoughts.

🏥 In the real world

⏰ The fractured-ankle client gets a CIWA assessment, scheduled lorazepam, thiamine and a quiet room on day one. Day three passes without a seizure or DTs. The nurse who asked 'When was your last drink?' on admission, and believed the answer of 'this morning', prevented the emergency instead of managing it.

📌 Takeaways

• Alcohol withdrawal: 6 to 12 h onset, seizures 6 to 48 h, DTs 48 to 96 h
• Benzodiazepines for alcohol and benzo withdrawal; thiamine before glucose
• Naloxone for opioid overdose; it may need repeat doses

✅ Test yourself