Alcohol withdrawal requiring massive prolonged benzodiazepine infusion. 2007

Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
Department of Psychiatry, Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Road, Honolulu, HI 96859, USA.

The objective of this case report is to describe a patient with prolonged alcohol withdrawal requiring massive standing doses of benzodiazepines. The setting is the medical intensive care unit of the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. The patient is a 58-year-old alcohol-dependent male presenting with mental status changes and agitation following an uncomplicated cystoprostatectomy, who ultimately required massive doses of benzodiazepines to treat his symptoms effectively. We conclude that symptom-triggered therapy proved ineffective in this case due to inability to achieve adequate frequency of assessments. Ultimately, a lengthy, high-dose, fixed interval benzodiazepine regimen was required. The 5-week period of intensive care illustrated that scheduled doses of benzodiazepines may be required and massive and prolonged doses are sometimes necessary. Adherence to a slow-weaning protocol understood by an interdisciplinary team was critical to this patient's recovery. Additionally, toxicity from the high-dose medication was not observed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008889 Military Personnel Persons including soldiers involved with the armed forces. Air Force Personnel,Armed Forces Personnel,Army Personnel,Coast Guard,Marines,Navy Personnel,Sailors,Soldiers,Submariners,Military,Force Personnel, Air,Personnel, Air Force,Personnel, Armed Forces,Personnel, Army,Personnel, Military,Personnel, Navy,Sailor,Soldier,Submariner
D008890 Military Psychiatry Branch of psychiatry concerned with problems related to the prevention, diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of mental or emotional disorders of Armed Forces personnel. Psychiatry, Military
D006254 Hawaii A group of islands in Polynesia, in the north central Pacific Ocean, comprising eight major and 114 minor islands, largely volcanic and coral. Its capital is Honolulu. It was first reached by Polynesians about 500 A.D. It was discovered and named the Sandwich Islands in 1778 by Captain Cook. The islands were united under the rule of King Kamehameha 1795-1819 and requested annexation to the United States in 1893 when a provisional government was set up. Hawaii was established as a territory in 1900 and admitted as a state in 1959. The name is from the Polynesian Owhyhii, place of the gods, with reference to the two volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, regarded as the abode of the gods. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p493 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p2330) Midway Island,Midway Islands
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000430 Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium An acute organic mental disorder induced by cessation or reduction in chronic alcohol consumption. Clinical characteristics include CONFUSION; DELUSIONS; vivid HALLUCINATIONS; TREMOR; agitation; insomnia; and signs of autonomic hyperactivity (e.g., elevated blood pressure and heart rate, dilated pupils, and diaphoresis). This condition may occasionally be fatal. It was formerly called delirium tremens. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1175) Alcohol Withdrawal Hallucinosis,Autonomic Hyperactivity, Alcohol Withdrawal Associated,Delirium Tremens,Alcohol Withdrawal Associated Autonomic Hyperactivity,Alcohol Withdrawal-Induced Delirium Tremens,Delirium Tremens, Alcohol Withdrawal Induced,Alcohol Withdrawal Induced Delirium Tremens,Delirium, Alcohol Withdrawal,Hallucinosis, Alcohol Withdrawal
D001569 Benzodiazepines A group of two-ring heterocyclic compounds consisting of a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring. Benzodiazepine,Benzodiazepine Compounds
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

Related Publications

Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
June 1979, The American journal of psychiatry,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
January 2023, Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
December 1999, Intensive care medicine,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
April 2014, The Annals of pharmacotherapy,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
February 1986, Rational drug therapy,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
October 2014, Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
August 2015, Ugeskrift for laeger,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
August 1990, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
January 2003, Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology,
Patrick C Hayes, and Paul M Faestel, and Paige L Shimamoto, and Craig Holland
January 1993, The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice,
Copied contents to your clipboard!