Substance use: alcohol withdrawal: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Substance use: alcohol withdrawal

Sample item

A dependent drinker develops agitation, tremor, hypertension and visual hallucinations two days after stopping alcohol. What is first-line pharmacotherapy?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepines prevent withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens by augmenting GABA-A signalling. Thiamine should also be given, ideally before glucose when deficiency is suspected.

Option by option

  • A. Disulfiram

    Disulfiram is an aversive relapse-prevention medication, not acute withdrawal treatment.

  • B. Benzodiazepine (correct)

    Correct. Benzodiazepines are the main evidence-based treatment for acute alcohol withdrawal.

  • C. Haloperidol alone

    Antipsychotics do not prevent withdrawal seizures and are not adequate monotherapy.

  • D. Naltrexone immediately

    Naltrexone is used for relapse prevention after acute stabilisation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is B, Benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines prevent withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens by augmenting GABA-A signalling.

Why is "Disulfiram" not the answer?

Disulfiram is an aversive relapse-prevention medication, not acute withdrawal treatment.

Why is "Haloperidol alone" not the answer?

Antipsychotics do not prevent withdrawal seizures and are not adequate monotherapy.

Why is "Naltrexone immediately" not the answer?

Naltrexone is used for relapse prevention after acute stabilisation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: alcohol withdrawal in Psychiatry. Thiamine should also be given, ideally before glucose when deficiency is suspected.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Substance use: alcohol withdrawal?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.