In order to investigate whether alcohol-withdrawal kindling is an irreversible process, male Wistar rats were exposed to 12 episodes, each consisting of 2 days of severe alcohol intoxication and 5 days of alcohol withdrawal. Spontaneous withdrawal seizures were found in 15% of the animals during episodes 10-12. After an alcohol-free period of 26 days, the animals were subjected to three more ep...

BACKGROUND Previous data in both rat and mouse genetic models suggest that there is a genetic relationship between acute alcohol withdrawal responses and innate alcohol drinking behavior. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether acute alcohol withdrawal responses, as measured by acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle, may be genetically related to inna...

Alcohol withdrawal is a common clinical condition that has a variety of complications and morbidities. The manifestations can range from mild agitation to withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens. The treatments for alcohol withdrawal include benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers and antihypertensives. Although benzodiazepines are presently a first-line therapy, there is controversy r...

Managing acute alcohol withdrawal in critical care presents a unique challenge to the critical care nurse. The prominence of alcohol use within the Australian community means that many critical care admissions involve acute alcohol withdrawal, an alcohol induced illness, or indeed an unrelated admission with underlying heavy alcohol intake. Current statistics suggest 1 in 5 Australians drink to...

Objective(s): Ethanol withdrawal following chronic use, is an important challenge clinically. In this study, the effect of clavulanic acid was evaluated on the symptoms of ethanol withdrawal in rats. Materials and Methods: Alcohol dependence was induced by the gavage of ethanol (10% v/v, 2 g/kg), twice daily for 10 days. Clavulanic acid ...

Management of alcohol withdrawal in critically ill patients is a challenge. The alcohol consumption histories of intensive care patients are often incomplete, limiting identification of patients with alcohol use disorders. Abrupt cessation of alcohol places these patients at risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Typically benzodiazepines are used as first-line therapy to manage alcohol withdraw...

Christiana Care Health System implemented a Care Management Guideline for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom Management, which provided direction for inpatient screening for alcohol withdrawal risk, assessment, and treatment. Nurses educated on its use expressed confusion with the use of the assessment tools, pharmacokinetics, and pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens. Reeducation ...

The neuropeptide somatostatin has been suggested to play a role in seizure genesis, electrical kindling and the neurotoxic effects of alcohol. The purpose of the present experiment was to study somatostatin-immunoreactive (SS-IR) neurons in hippocampus during alcohol-withdrawal kindling. Alcohol-withdrawal kindling was performed by subjecting male Wistar rats to seven weekly episodes consisting...

Physiological dependence and associated withdrawal episodes are thought to constitute a motivational force that sustains alcohol use and abuse and may contribute to relapse in dependent individuals. Although no animal model duplicates alcoholism, models for specific factors, like withdrawal, are useful for identifying potential genetic and neural determinants of liability in humans. Previously,...