Determinants of success of loading dose diazepam for alcohol withdrawal: A chart review

The use of loading dose diazepam for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal was first described by Sellers et al.[1] The same was used successfully in Indian patients by Manikant et al.[2] It involves the administration of 20mg oral diazepam every 2 h until the patient is drowsy, but arousable. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are monitored using the Clinical Institutes Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol - Revised (CIWA-Ar) scale.[3] Further doses are withheld whenever CIWA-Ar scores fall below 8. The major advantages of this method include faster recovery from delirium, lower total doses of diazepam and a lesser risk of complications like withdrawal seizures and arrhythmias.