ForYouNews&PerspectiveDrugs&DiseasesCME&EducationAcademyVideoDecisionPointEdition:ENGLISHDEUTSCHESPAÑOLFRANÇAISPORTUGUÊSLogInSignUpIt'sFree!Edition:ENGLISHDEUTSCHESPAÑOLFRANÇAISPORTUGUÊSRegisterLogInNoResultsNoResultsForYouNews&PerspectiveDrugs&DiseasesCME&EducationAcademyVideoDecisionPointclosePleaseconfirmthatyouwouldliketologoutofMedscape.Ifyoulogout,youwillberequiredtoenteryourusernameandpasswordthenexttimeyouvisit.LogoutCancelhttps://profreg.medscape.com/px/getpracticeprofile.do?method=getProfessionalProfile&urlCache=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbWVkaWNpbmUubWVkc2NhcGUuY29tL2FydGljbGUvNzk0NTgzLXRyZWF0bWVudA==processing....Drugs&Diseases>EmergencyMedicineWernickeEncephalopathy Treatment&ManagementUpdated:Nov20,2018Author:PhilipNSalen,MD;ChiefEditor:AndrewKChang,MD,MS more...ShareEmailPrintFeedbackCloseFacebookTwitterLinkedInGoogle+SectionsWernickeEncephalopathySectionsWernickeEncephalopathyOverviewPracticeEssentialsEtiologyEpidemiologyPrognosisPathophysiologyShowAllPresentationHistoryPhysicalExaminationComplicationsShowAllDDxWorkupApproachConsiderationsBiomarkersSerumElectrolyteLevelsImagingStudiesLaboratoryStudiesOtherTestsShowAllTreatmentApproachConsiderationsEmergencyDepartmentCareInpatientandOutpatientCareConsultations,Monitoring,andPreventionComplicationsShowAllGuidelinesMedicationMedicationSummaryNutrientsShowAllQuestions&AnswersReferencesTreatmentApproachConsiderationsRapidcorrectionofbrainthiaminedeficiencyisthegoaloftherapy.[4] WEmustbeviewedasamedicalemergency,evenifother,competingdiagnosesofCNSprocessesarebeingconsidered.Becausetheconditionispotentiallyreversible,institutionoftreatmentisindicatedinpatientsexhibitinganycombinationofsymptomsandsigns,particularlyifthepatientisinahigh-riskpopulation.Onsetofthediseasemaybeacute,subacute,orchronic.Administrationofthiamineimprovesthepatient’sconditiontosomedegreeinalmostallcases;however,persistentneurologicdysfunctioniscommon.[5] OralabsorptionisunreliableinpatientsatriskofWernickeencephalopathy,whichemphasizestheimportanceo