Substance Use: Alcohol & Benzodiazepines

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Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms, mechanisms, clinical features, and treatments related to alcohol and benzodiazepine use, intoxication, withdrawal, and long-term management.

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26 Terms

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Ethanol (EtOH)

A CNS depressant that activates GABA receptors, producing sedation and impaired motor function.

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GABA Receptor Activation

Enhancement of inhibitory neurotransmission leading to CNS depression; mechanism shared by alcohol and benzodiazepines.

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Alcohol Intoxication

Clinical state marked by slurred speech, ataxia, stupor, or coma after excessive drinking.

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Alcohol Intoxication Management

Supportive care plus thiamine and folate; gastric evacuation only if large ingestion occurred within the last hour.

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Benzodiazepines

Sedative–hypnotic drugs that potentiate GABA-A chloride channels to reduce anxiety and induce sleep.

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Benzodiazepine Intoxication

Drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, incoordination, and ataxia resembling alcohol intoxication.

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Flumazenil

A competitive benzodiazepine antagonist used to reverse benzodiazepine overdose.

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Alcohol Withdrawal

Symptom spectrum occurring after cessation of heavy drinking, ranging from tremors to delirium tremens.

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Mild Alcohol Withdrawal

Anxiety, tremors, diaphoresis, palpitations, and insomnia appearing 6–24 hours after last drink.

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Alcoholic Seizures

Generalized tonic–clonic seizures that emerge 24–48 hours after alcohol cessation.

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Alcoholic Hallucinosis

Visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations with normal orientation and stable vitals, 24–48 hours after last drink.

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Delirium Tremens

Severe alcohol withdrawal (48–96 h) featuring confusion, hallucinations, fever, and hypertension.

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CIWA Scale

Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment tool used to gauge alcohol withdrawal severity and guide benzodiazepine dosing.

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Diazepam

Long-acting benzodiazepine preferred for alcohol withdrawal in patients with normal liver function.

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Lorazepam

Intermediate-acting benzodiazepine used for alcohol withdrawal in liver-impaired patients.

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Banana Bag

IV mixture of thiamine, folate, and vitamins given to chronic alcohol users to prevent deficiency complications.

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Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Alcohol-like symptoms (anxiety, tremors, seizures, hallucinations) requiring slow taper with a long-acting benzodiazepine.

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Alcohol Use Disorder

Maladaptive pattern of alcohol use causing impairment or distress, characterized by tolerance, cravings, and failed obligations.

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Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

Thiamine-deficiency triad of nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia with confusion; precipitated by glucose administration.

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Korsakoff Syndrome

Chronic amnestic disorder with confabulation and apathy due to untreated Wernicke’s; usually irreversible.

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Naltrexone

Opioid receptor antagonist that reduces alcohol craving and reward; contraindicated in severe hepatitis.

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Acamprosate

Glutamate modulator started after detox to prevent relapse; safe in liver disease but avoided in severe CKD.

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Disulfiram

Aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor causing flushing, headache, vomiting, and palpitations if alcohol is consumed.

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CAGE Questionnaire

Four-item screening tool (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) for identifying problem drinking.

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AUDIT

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—10-question screening instrument for hazardous alcohol use.

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MAST

Michigan Alcohol Screening Test—self-report questionnaire assessing lifetime alcohol-related problems.