Detoxification: the use of benzodiazepines.

The use of benzodiazepines in the management of alcohol withdrawal in chemically dependent alcoholics is reviewed. Benzodiazepines are safer than earlier sedative drugs used for this purpose, such as barbiturates, chloral hydrate and paraldehyde. Differences in efficacy between individual benzodiazepines are slight, but benefits and disadvantages of longer acting (diazepam and chlordiazepoxide) drugs and shorter acting (lorazepam and oxazepam) are compared. Long-term outcome is commented on.