Non-communicable diseases: alcohol withdrawal management: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Non-communicable diseases: alcohol withdrawal management

Sample item

A 40-year-old man who drank heavily for years has been admitted after an accident and stopped drinking 36 hours ago. He now has tremors, sweating, agitation and a pulse of 110 per minute. Which drug group is the mainstay of treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Benzodiazepines

Alcohol withdrawal results from loss of GABA-mediated inhibition and rebound excitation. Long-acting benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide or diazepam reduce symptoms and prevent seizures and delirium tremens. Thiamine is given to prevent Wernicke encephalopathy.

Option by option

  • A. Phenytoin

    Phenytoin does not prevent or treat alcohol withdrawal seizures.

  • B. Benzodiazepines (correct)

    Correct. Benzodiazepines treat withdrawal and prevent seizures and delirium tremens.

  • C. Beta-blockers alone

    Beta-blockers mask autonomic signs but do not prevent seizures or delirium.

  • D. Antipsychotics

    Antipsychotics lower the seizure threshold and are not the mainstay of treatment.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Benzodiazepines. Alcohol withdrawal results from loss of GABA-mediated inhibition and rebound excitation.

Why is "Phenytoin" not the answer?

Phenytoin does not prevent or treat alcohol withdrawal seizures.

Why is "Beta-blockers alone" not the answer?

Beta-blockers mask autonomic signs but do not prevent seizures or delirium.

Why is "Antipsychotics" not the answer?

Antipsychotics lower the seizure threshold and are not the mainstay of treatment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Non-communicable diseases: alcohol withdrawal management in PSM. Long-acting benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide or diazepam reduce symptoms and prevent seizures and delirium tremens. Thiamine is given to prevent Wernicke encephalopathy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Non-communicable diseases: alcohol withdrawal management?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.