Ethanol and sedatives

Abstract

Ethanol abuse is associated with a variety of neurologic disturbances. These disturbances result from direct drug effects, drug withdrawal, nutritional deficiency, organ system failure, and other, unidentified factors. In contrast, abuse of sedative-hypnotic drugs produces a more limited spectrum of neurologic involvement, consisting primarily of overdose and withdrawal syndromes. Recent advances in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment are beginning to influence the clinical approach to some of these disorders.