[The alcoholic emergency].

Gastric lavage, intestinal charcoal decontamination and specific drug antagonism, therapeutic measures widely applied in other intoxications, are of no clear benefit or unavailable in patients with alcohol intoxication. The gastric first-pass-effect is important in modifying the kinetics of alcohol, and clinically relevant drug-alcohol interactions occur in situations of both acute and chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol-induced hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis should be considered in every severely ill alcoholic patient. The recognition of alcoholism is important and rewarding, since therapeutic action by the practicing physician can be of significant help.