| Symptom triggered | FDA-approved: chlordiazepoxide (Librium); initial dose of 50 to 100 mg, followed by repeated doses as needed until agitation is controlled, up to 300 mg per day. |
| Off-label: chlordiazepoxide; 25 to 100 mg every hour when CIWA-Ar score > 8.27 |
| Front loading | FDA-approved: diazepam (Valium); 10 mg 3 or 4 times in first 24 hours, then 3 or 4 times daily as needed. |
| Off-label: diazepam; 20 mg every 1 to 2 hours at first sign of withdrawal until symptoms are improved.26 |
| Fixed schedule | Off-label: chlordiazepoxide; 50 mg every 6 hours for four doses, then 25 mg every 6 hours for eight doses.13 |
| Short-acting benzodiazepine* | FDA-approved: oxazepam (Serax); 15 to 30 mg 3 or 4 times daily. |
| Off-label: lorazepam (Ativan); 0.5 to 1 mg 3 or 4 times daily on a scheduled basis, plus 1 mg every 4 hours if needed for mild symptoms (e.g., CIWA-Ar score between 8 and 14) or 2 mg every 2 hours if needed for moderate symptoms (e.g., CIWA-Ar score > 15). |