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Question answered:18/06/08
CKS have a guideline on problem drinkers [1] and this reports:
“Prescribe oral thiamine during the detoxification process and for as long as there is the possibility of malnutrition.”
It later reports:
“These recommendations are consistent with those made by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) for the management of dependent alcohol users [SIGN, 2003; Raistrick et al, 2006].
People who are dependent on alcohol are often malnourished and deficient in vitamins. In particular, thiamine deficiency is common due to poor diet, poor absorption (caused by gastritis), and a high demand for the vitamin (it is used as a coenzyme in alcohol metabolism).
Thiamine deficiency can cause Wernicke's encephalopathy, a condition that is reversible with thiamine supplements. However, if left untreated, Korsakoff's syndrome may develop, causing irreversible brain damage.
For the available evidence for the use of thiamine in the treatment of alcohol dependent people, see Thiamine in alcohol-dependency.”
See guideline for further details.
References
1) http://cks.library.nhs.uk/alcohol_problem_drinking
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