Action
- Discharge with PO chlordiazepoxide 50-100 mg q6h for 4 doses, then 25-50 mg q6h for 2-3 days, and outpatient follow up (Class II)
Background
Obtaining an ethanol level is also recommended, as severe alcohol intoxication can mimic alcohol withdrawal in some individuals. Additionally, individuals who have alcohol withdrawal with an elevated ethanol level are more likely to develop severe alcohol withdrawal. In cases in which laboratory studies are obtained, a serum ethanol level is preferred; however, in cases of mild alcohol withdrawal (eg, alcoholic tremor with normal vital signs), measurement of the expired ethanol in the breath (a breathalyzer) will suffice. A serum ethanol level may also be considered in cases in which the history is inconclusive. There is no single ethanol level at which withdrawal is improbable; however, withdrawal does become increasingly unlikely at higher ethanol levels. In these authors’ experience, patients with serum ethanol levels >150 mg/dL are unlikely to present in withdrawal.
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