A 55-year-old man with a long history of alcohol misuse presents with confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. You suspect Wernicke’s encephalopathy. Ac...

Question

A 55-year-old man with a long history of alcohol misuse presents with confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. You suspect Wernicke’s encephalopathy. According to best practice, what is the most appropriate immediate management?

Accepted Answer

Parenteral Thiamine before any carbohydrate

Answer

Oral Thiamine only

Answer

IV Glucose then Thiamine

Answer

No specific treatment is required

Answer

Haloperidol for agitation only

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Wernicke’s encephalopathy

A 55-year-old man with a long history of alcohol misuse presents with confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. You suspect Wernicke’s encephalopathy. According to best practice, what is the most appropriate immediate management?