Thiamine supplementation in ethanol intoxication

Thiamine supplementation is recommended for adult patients who are ethanol-dependent; see Thiamine supplementation for deficiency in adults in the Gastrointestinal guidelines.

Higher doses of thiamine are required for patients with Wernicke encephalopathy, a life-threatening complication of thiamine deficiency that is often associated with ethanol dependence. For more information on Wernicke encephalopathy, see Thiamine supplementation and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome in alcohol dependence in the Addiction guidelines.