Why do you give thiamine to alcoholics

Study 2: Talbot. J Correct Health Care, Study 3: Rees and Gowing. Alcohol Alcohol, Study 4: Peters, et al. There are no high-quality data comparing durations, dosages, or efficacy of OTT for chronic alcoholics and those at risk for thiamine deficiency and the clinical consequences of same.

It is likely that a theoretical hierarchy of dosing and frequencies exist, with parenteral superior to oral administration and multiple daily and high-dose supplementation superior to single daily doses Isenberg-Grzeda Given the staggering burden of disease and inherent nonparticipation in primary care of chronic alcoholics presenting to the emergency department, as well as the trivial cost, lack of harm, and potential benefit of prescribed oral thiamine therapy, we recommend prescription of thiamine hydrochloride, mg tid, as ongoing supplementary therapy in alcoholic patients identified as at risk for thiamine deficiency —that is, those with clinical evidence of malnutrition weight loss, poor healing, lack of coordination , alcoholic liver disease, or daily alcohol abuse.

This recommendation is not meant to supplant, but rather augment, the routine administration of IM thiamine while patients are in the ED. Therapy should be continued for as long as risk factors persist. We recognize the significant limitation of noncompliance in this population, however believe that the potential benefit far outweighs the minimal time and resource cost of oral therapy.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Time limit is exhausted. All rights reserved. Disclaimer Website by Innov8 Place. September 7, Clinical Question: What literature exists regarding the use of oral thiamine therapy in chronic alcoholics to prevent sequelae of prolonged thiamine deficiency?

What relevant guidelines apply to the initiation of outpatient oral thiamine therapy from the emergency department? BMC Clin Pharm, Methods: Randomized, double-blind, single-dose, 4-way crossover study examining plasma levels of thiamine. Population: 12 healthy subjects Intervention: Oral administration of mg, mg, or mg of thiamine hydrochloride Controls: Placebo Outcome:Plasma levels of thiamine increased nonlinearly and rapidly with oral thiamine supplementation up to mg daily.

Reuler, J. Wernicke's encephalopathy. New England Journal of Medicine , — Singleton, C. Current Molecular Medicine 1 , — Thomson, A. Alcohol and Alcoholism 32 , — Alcohol and Alcoholism 37 , — Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.

It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Sign In or Create an Account. Sign In. Advanced Search. Search Menu. Article Navigation. Close mobile search navigation Article Navigation. Volume Bernard B. Oxford Academic. Google Scholar. Select Format Select format. Thiamine deficiency can be treated by stopping alcohol consumption, eating a nutritious diet and by taking vitamin B1 supplements.

However, diet and supplements alone are not effective if heavy alcohol use continues because alcohol will block absorption. Insights Alcohol and thiamine Back to Insights.

November 3, Alcohol and thiamine. Symptoms include: confusion loss of memory activity loss of muscle coordination and leg tremors double vision, abnormal eye movements or eyelid drooping. Thiamin [Accessed 27 October ]. Medline Plus.