The current "gold-standard" for the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is
symptom-triggered administration of benzodiazepines. This method of treatment has several
drawbacks that have been described in the literature. Thus benzodiazepine sparing agents have
been evaluated for use in AWS. One of these agents that has not only shown benefit for AWS
but also benefits on complete abstinence, reducing a return to heavy drinking, and cravings
is gabapentin. In clinical practice at Mayo Clinic gabapentin is used for this purpose. Due
to the limited reports of the safety and efficacy of a protocol involving gabapentin for AWS,
a study to compare gabapentin to symptom-triggered lorazepam will be completed.