Controversies on the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms (AWS) are serious and seen in patients with severe alcohol problems reducing their alcohol intake. AWS is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, and - if untreated - with delirium, seizures, and increased severity of subsequent withdrawals. Benzodiazepines are the drugs of choice for treating AWS, and the dosage should be sufficient, preferably according to symptom scores. Experiencing AWS has no positive effects, and early detection and adequate treatment are crucial to the outcome. Medicine-free treatment of AWS is a thing of the past.