Intravenous vitamins for alcoholics in the emergency department: a review.

It is common practice for emergency physicians to provide i.v. vitamin replacements for alcoholics who present to the emergency department (ED). This article describes vitamin deficiencies in alcoholics and reviews the utility and utilization of vitamins in the emergency department. We conclude that the current data do not support the routine administration of i.v. vitamins to alcoholics who present to the ED and we do not recommend this practice.