20th February 2024

A 34-year-old female was admitted to the acute medical unit with alcohol withdrawals and successfully managed with benzodiazepines.

A 34-year-old female was admitted to the acute medical unit with alcohol withdrawals and successfully managed with benzodiazepines. She is currently keen to become abstinent from alcohol. She had tried behavioural therapy and brief interventions with her GP in the past but felt that this did not help, and she relapsed a month after starting. She is keen to start therapy again. She continues to drink alcohol up to her admission. 

Which of the following describes the likely mode of action of the 1st line pharmacological treatment?