Loading…
Presentation comparison
Emergency3 of 8 diagnoses compared
| CriteriaComparison detail | Alcohol withdrawalEmergency |
|---|
Timing after last drink plus autonomic overdrive and tremor are classic.
Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
| Benzodiazepine withdrawalEmergency |
|---|
| Opioid withdrawalEmergency |
|---|
| Stimulant withdrawalEmergencyNot selected |
|---|
| GHB withdrawalEmergencyNot selected |
|---|
| Nicotine withdrawalEmergencyNot selected |
|---|
| Cannabis withdrawalEmergencyNot selected |
|---|
| Antidepressant discontinuation syndromeEmergencyNot selected |
|---|
| Why it fits | Tremor, sweating, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, seizures after cessation | Anxiety, tremor, perceptual disturbance, insomnia, agitation, seizures | Yawning, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, piloerection, diarrhoea, cramps, myalgia, anxiety | Fatigue, hypersomnia, low mood, anhedonia, irritability, psychomotor slowing | Agitation, tremor, anxiety, delirium, autonomic instability, insomnia | Irritability, anxiety, craving, poor concentration, restlessness, insomnia | Irritability, insomnia, decreased appetite, low mood, restlessness | Dizziness, insomnia, nausea, flu-like symptoms, "brain zaps" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What argues against | Applies to the whole presentationReview locally. | |||||||
| Must-not-miss | Seizures, delirium tremens, severe autonomic instability, Wernicke risk | Seizures, delirium, severe autonomic instability | Severe dehydration, intense suicidality, missed concurrent overdose risk | Suicidality, psychosis persisting beyond expected crash | ||||
| Bedside question | Applies to the whole presentationTiming after last drink plus autonomic overdrive and tremor are classic. | |||||||
| Immediate action | Applies to the whole presentationCIWA-Ar if suitable, vitals, BGL, electrolytes, seizure and DTs risk, thiamine need Use medical-first, trauma-informed withdrawal pathway | |||||||
| Investigations | Applies to the whole presentationBlood glucose, Vitals, oxygen saturation, Urea, electrolytes, creatinine | |||||||
| Mimics / overlap | Applies to the whole presentationReview overlap locally. | |||||||
Scroll horizontally to review more candidate differentials. Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
Review locally.
Timing after last drink plus autonomic overdrive and tremor are classic.
CIWA-Ar if suitable, vitals, BGL, electrolytes, seizure and DTs risk, thiamine need Use medical-first, trauma-informed withdrawal pathway
Blood glucose, Vitals, oxygen saturation, Urea, electrolytes, creatinine
Review overlap locally.
Tremor, sweating, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, seizures after cessation
Seizures, delirium tremens, severe autonomic instability, Wernicke risk
Anxiety, tremor, perceptual disturbance, insomnia, agitation, seizures
Seizures, delirium,
Yawning, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, piloerection, diarrhoea, cramps, myalgia, anxiety
Severe dehydration, intense suicidality,
Safety first. Act early.
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
Open a selected differential to review its clinical record.
Based on current selection
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
| Severe behavioural escalation in dependent smokers. |
| Severe sleep loss, relapse, worsening depression |
| Severe distress, relapse confusion, falls in older adults |