Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
medium

Can be a complication of treatment.

short term
low

About 5% of patients who undergo withdrawal have alcohol withdrawal delirium. Usually occurs 48-72 hours after the last alcoholic drink, and peaks at 5 days.[1][5][6]

short term
low

Can occur early in the course of disease. Self-limited and less than 3% progress to status epilepticus.[59]

short term
low

Less than 3% of alcohol withdrawal seizures progress to status epilepticus.[59]

Status epilepticus

variable
low

Mortality is recognized, but rare in patients receiving appropriate care. It may not be possible to separate mortality related to chronic alcoholism from withdrawal-related mortality.

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