Medically Managed Alcohol Withdrawal in the Outpatient Setting.

Alcohol withdrawal is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that is often a barrier to voluntary discontinuation of heavy alcohol use. Given the wide range of alcohol withdrawal severity and difficulty predicting an individual's alcohol withdrawal course, managing alcohol withdrawal in an ambulatory setting can be difficult. This article explores the pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal and risk factors for severe alcohol withdrawal, as well as provides a framework for ambulatory medically managed withdrawal in the clinic setting.