Psychiatr. praxi. 2011;12(4):153-155

Diagnosing and treating delirium tremens

MUDr.Roman Pilch
Psychosociální centrum Přerov

Delirium tremens is a life threatening condition that requires an intensive care. The treatment involves high dosages of clomethiazol

or benzodiazepines, intravenous fluid and electrolyte supplementation, treatment of complications, monitoring of blood results (esp.

electrolytes, fluid levels) and vital signs. The restriction of the patient is often needed. Non-complicated delirium tremens could be cured

in the mental hospital, but more complicated states (somatic disease, head trauma etc.) should be treated in the intensive care unit

with the cooperation of a psychiatrist.

Keywords: delirium tremens, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, clomethiazol, diazepam

Published: October 22, 2011  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Pilch R. Diagnosing and treating delirium tremens. Psychiatr. praxi. 2011;12(4):153-155.
Download citation

References

  1. Csémy L, Nešpor K. Odvykací stavy po alkoholu v ČR. České pracovní lékařství 2002; 3(3): 156.
  2. Chval J. Delirium tremens. Psychiatr. prax; 2007; 8(6): 283-286.
  3. Palmstierna T. A model for predicting alcohol withdrawal delirium. Psychiatr-Serv, 2001; 52: 820-823. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  4. Lukan JK, Reed DN. Jr, Looney SW, el al. Risk factors for delirium tremens in trauma patients. The Journal of Trauma, 2002; 53: 901-906. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  5. Eyer F, Schoster T, Felgenhauer N, et al. Risk assessment of moderate to severe alcohol withdrawal - predictors for seizures and delirium tremens in the course of withdrawal. Alcohol Alcohol, 2011; 46(4): 427-433. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  6. Findley JK, Park LT, Siefert CJ, et al. Two routine blood testsmean corpuscular volume and aspartate aminotransferaseas predictors of delirium tremens in trauma patients. J Trauma 2010; 69(1): 199-201. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  7. Pilch R. Delirum tremens - rizikové faktory vzniku. Praktický Lékař 2005; 85(6): 618-621.
  8. Monte R, Rabu?al R, Casariego E, et al. Analysis of the factors determining survival of alcoholic withdrawal syndrome patients in a general hospital. Alcohol Alcohol 2010; 45(2): 151-158. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  9. Khan A, Levy P, DeHom S, et al. Predictors of mortality in patients with delirium tremens. Acad Emerg Med, 2008; 15(8): 788-790. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  10. Pilch R. Odvykací stav s deliriem po odnětí zolpidemu. Psychiatr. praxi 2004; 6: 334-335.
  11. Bosshart H. Withdrawal-induced delirium associated with a benzodiazepine switch: a case report. J Med Case Reports, 2011, 26; 5(1): 207. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  12. Gheorghiev C, De Montleau F, Defuentes G. Alcohol and epilepsy: A case report between alcohol withdrawal seizures and neuroborreliosis. Encephale 2011; 37(3): 231-237. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  13. Talbot PA. Timing of efficacy of thiamine in Wernicke's disease in alcoholics at risk. J Correct Health Care, 2011; 17(1): 46-50. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  14. Bednařík J. Delirium v intenzivní péči. Psychiatrie, 2010; 14(Suppl 1): 25.
  15. Eyer F, Schreckenberg M, Hecht D, et al. Carbamazepine and valproate as adjuncts in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome: a retrospective cohort study. Alcohol Alcohol 2011; 46(2): 177-184. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  16. Muzyk AJ, Fowler JA, Norwood DK, Chilipko A. Role of ?2-agonists in the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal. Ann Pharmacother 2011; 45(5): 649-657. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  17. Švarc J. Omezující prostředky v psychiatrii. Psychiatr. praxi 2008; 9(5): 244-245.
  18. Koňařík M. Delirantní syndrom v intenzivní péči. Sestra, 2004; 14(5): 30-31.
  19. Dvořáková J, Dubská L, Hyánek J, et al. Homocystein a karbohydrát-deficientní transferin (CDT) u pacientů podezřelých ze zvýšeného přívodu alkoholu. Klin. Biochem. Metab., 2003; 11(32): 235-238.




Psychiatry for Practice

Madam, Sir,
please be aware that the website on which you intend to enter, not the general public because it contains technical information about medicines, including advertisements relating to medicinal products. This information and communication professionals are solely under §2 of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. Is active persons authorized to prescribe or supply (hereinafter expert).
Take note that if you are not an expert, you run the risk of danger to their health or the health of other persons, if you the obtained information improperly understood or interpreted, and especially advertising which may be part of this site, or whether you used it for self-diagnosis or medical treatment, whether in relation to each other in person or in relation to others.

I declare:

  1. that I have met the above instruction
  2. I'm an expert within the meaning of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. the regulation of advertising, as amended, and I am aware of the risks that would be a person other than the expert input to these sites exhibited


No

Yes

If your statement is not true, please be aware
that brings the risk of danger to their health or the health of others.