A 50-year-old male with chronic alcoholism presents with tremor, agitation, visual hallucinations, diaphoresis, and hypertension 48 hours after his last drink. What is the first-line medication class to treat delirium tremens?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Intravenous benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam or lorazepam)

  1. Step 1: Delirium tremens is a severe alcohol withdrawal state characterized by autonomic hyperactivity and altered sensorium.
  2. Step 2: Benzodiazepines act on GABA-A receptors to control psychomotor agitation, prevent seizures, and stabilize vital signs.
Answer
Intravenous benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam or lorazepam).
Why not the others: 'Antipsychotics alone (e.g., haloperidol)' lower the seizure threshold and do not treat the underlying GABA withdrawal; 'Anticonvulsants (e.g., phenytoin)' are ineffective for alcohol withdrawal seizures; 'Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., sertraline)' have no role in acute withdrawal.

Practise more Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Pulmonology.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed National Health Regulatory Authority Licensure Examination (NHRA Bahrain) mock tests.

All Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Pulmonology questionsTake a mock test

More Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Pulmonology questions