Alcohol withdrawal pathophysiology

	Alcohol Withdrawal Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]

Pathophysiology

Prolonged exposure to alcohol results in inhibition of the inhibitory GABA A-type and NMDA-type glutamate receptors located in the CNS. Without the alcohol, greater CNS excitability results, due to lack of inhibition on the CNS inhibitory receptors by alcohol.
Elevated norepinephrine has been found in the CSF patients in acute alcohol withdrawal. It is postulated that there is a decreased amount of alpha 2-receptors, resulting in less inhibition of presynaptic norepinephrine release.