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Abstinência alcoólica

Last reviewed: 15 Jan 2026
Last updated: 04 Nov 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • uso de bebidas alcoólicas
  • alteração do estado mental
  • alucinações
  • convulsões
  • delírios
  • hipertensão ou hipotensão
  • febre ou hipotermia
  • hiperglicemia ou hipoglicemia
  • características de instabilidade clínica
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • tremor
  • náuseas e vômitos
  • anorexia
  • ansiedade/agitação
  • Instabilidade emocional
  • insônia
  • irritabilidade
  • diaforese
  • cefaleia
  • tremor fino
  • agitação
  • taquicardia
Full details

Risk factors

  • história de síndrome da abstinência alcoólica (SAA) e delirium por abstinência alcoólica
  • abstinência abrupta de álcool
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • ureia e creatinina séricas
  • TFHs
  • concentração de etanol
  • painel de eletrólitos
  • Hemograma completo
Full details

Tests to consider

  • tomografia computadorizada (TC) do crânio
  • radiografia torácica
  • eletroencefalograma (EEG)
  • rastreamento de vírus transmitidos pelo sangue
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

todos os pacientes

Contributors

Authors

Hong K. Kim, MD, MPH

Associate Professor

Department of Emergency Medicine

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Baltimore

MD

Disclosures

HKK declares that he has no competing interests.

Nicholas J. Connors, MD

Program Director

HCA Healthcare/Mercer University/Trident Medical Center

Emergency Medicine Residency Program

Charleston

SC

Disclosures

NJC declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Kinjal Sethuraman, MD, MPH

Associate Director

International Emergency Medicine

Long Island Jewish Hospital

New York

NY

Disclosures

KS declares that he has no competing interests.

Paul S. Haber, MD

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Discipline of Medicine

The University of Sydney

Sydney

Australia

Disclosures

PSH is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Bayard M, McIntyre J, Hill KR, et al. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Am Fam Physician. 2004 Mar 15;69(6):1443-50.Full text  Abstract

American Society of Addiction Medicine. The ASAM clinical practice guideline on alcohol withdrawal management. J Addict Med. 2020 May/Jun;14(3s suppl 1):1-72.Full text  Abstract

Bråthen G, Ben-Menachem E, Brodtkorb E, et al. Chapter 29: alcohol-related seizures. EFNS guidelines of alcohol-related seizures. In: Gilhus NE, Barnes MP, Brainin M, eds. European handbook of neurological management. 2nd ed, v1. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing; 2011:429-36.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed. Text revision. (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2022.

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Differentials

    • Toxicidade por simpatomiméticos
    • Encefalite
    • Meningite
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • The ASAM clinical practice guideline on alcohol withdrawal management
    • Assessment and management of alcohol dependence and withdrawal in the acute hospital
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Abstinência alcoólica

    More Patient information
  • Calculators

    Questionário AUDIT para rastreamento do consumo de álcool

    More Calculators
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