How should I initiate pharmacological treatment for a patient experiencing mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

For mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms, consider offering pharmacotherapy with a benzodiazepine, such as diazepam or chlordiazepoxide, following a standard protocol or fixed-dose regimen, titrated to the severity of withdrawal symptoms ¹.

Use a fixed-dose regimen to start treatment with a standard dose and gradually reduce over 7 to 10 days, ensuring adequate supervision if high doses are administered ¹.

In community settings, monitor the patient every other day and involve a family member or carer to oversee medication administration, adjusting the dose if severe withdrawal symptoms or over-sedation occur ¹.

A symptom-triggered regimen can also be used, where medication is provided based on regular assessment of withdrawal severity, possibly using tools like the CIWA-Ar scale ¹.