Alcohol Withdrawal: Causes, Symptoms, Timeline and Treatment Options

The road to recovery is challenging but with the right support and resources, it’s a path to a healthier and more fulfilling life. The most dangerous form of alcohol withdrawal occurs in about one out of every 20 people who have withdrawal symptoms. For most people with alcohol withdrawal, symptoms tend to be mild and include anxiety, restlessness, headaches, and a craving for alcohol.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: Timeline and Detox

• For people who experience hallucinations as part of alcohol withdrawal, these may begin in the 12- to 24-hour time frame.
• This article discusses alcohol withdrawal, its symptoms, and potential complications.
• It affects about 50% of people with alcohol use disorder who stop or significantly decrease their alcohol intake.
• When the alcohol level in your system suddenly drops, your brain stays in this overactive state.
• Most alcohol abusers who are having withdrawal symptoms have a shortage of several vitamins and minerals and can benefit from nutritional supplements.

If a person abruptly stops consuming alcohol after prolonged, excessive use, they may experience hallucinations. The production of these neurotransmitters undergoes changes when a person stops or significantly reduces alcohol intake. what is alcohol withdrawal The brain has to readjust, which leads to withdrawal symptoms.

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Although some people choose to detox at home, it is safer to seek help when detoxing. Symptoms can become severe, and it can be difficult to predict whether individuals will develop life threatening symptoms. For those trying to detox from alcohol, it is vital to do so under the supervision of a doctor, as the withdrawal symptoms may be severe.

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A doctor can often diagnose alcohol withdrawal syndrome by taking a person’s medical history and performing a physical exam. If you have mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you can often be treated in an outpatient setting. During this process, you will need someone to stay with you and keep an eye on you. You will likely need to make daily visits to your provider until you are stable.

The Role of Detox

• Alcohol withdrawal is easy to diagnose if you have typical symptoms that occur after you stop heavy, habitual drinking.
• Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations, or irregular heartbeats occur.
• Anyone who has severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, such as seizures, hallucinations, or prolonged vomiting, needs immediate medical treatment.
• Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to serious and can sometimes be life-threatening.
• Continued alcohol consumption causes changes in the central nervous system and neurotransmitter production in the brain.

If you’re getting through alcohol withdrawal at home, here’s what can help. Once you leave an inpatient program, you’ll be connected to resources you can continue to use, such as support groups or doctors or therapists in your area. As your body gets used to no alcohol, different treatments can make you more comfortable and keep your symptoms from getting worse. Symptoms are often at their worst between 24 and 72 hours after you stop drinking.

Alcohol (ethanol) depresses (slows down) your central nervous system (CNS). If you consistently consume significant amounts of alcohol, your CNS gets used to this effect. Your CNS must work harder to overcome the depressant effects of alcohol to keep your body functioning. Each of these symptoms can increase in intensity depending on the severity of the withdrawal.

People who experience alcohol withdrawal often live with a chronic alcohol use disorder, which is sometimes referred to as alcohol abuse or dependency. Health experts officially define moderate drinking as 1 drink or less per day for females and 2 drinks or less per day for males. However, if a person already has alcohol use disorder, they can help prevent some of the withdrawal symptoms by speaking with a doctor about safe withdrawal.

Doctors may treat withdrawal syndrome with medication or supportive care and monitoring. This may include medications like benzodiazepines or barbiturates (off-label), which require close monitoring and reassessment. Chronic heavy drinkers are at the highest risk for severe withdrawal. Complications can include dehydration, injury from falls during seizures, choking, heart arrhythmias, and severe psychiatric symptoms. If you have an alcohol dependency problem and have decided to stop drinking, call your doctor for help.

What are the risk factors for alcohol withdrawal?

Many involve a combination of group psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. The main management for severe symptoms is long-acting benzodiazepines — typically IV diazepam or IV lorazepam. But treatment varies based on the severity of alcohol withdrawal and the likelihood that it could progress to severe or complicated withdrawal. When you stop consuming alcohol after prolonged, heavy use, your CNS can’t respond or regulate itself fast enough. It becomes overexcited because there’s no more alcohol to slow it down. Many factors can contribute to someone developing alcohol use disorder.

They can help you understand what to expect and help you come up with a safe plan. Once you stop drinking and all the alcohol is out of your system, your diarrhea should start to get better. For now, it may be easier to skip meeting your “drinking buddies” and avoid gatherings that have a focus on drinking.

If you have severe vomiting, seizures, or delirium tremens, the safest place for you to be treated is in a hospital. For delirium tremens, treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) is often required. Treatment options for alcohol withdrawal syndrome typically involve supportive care to ease the effects of the symptoms.

You’re also at a higher risk if you have a history of epilepsy, hypoglycemia, or an electrolyte imbalance. For two to seven days, doctors may manage your withdrawal with medications. Everyone is different, but generally speaking, mild symptoms often start 6-12 hours after your last drink. You don’t need a professional diagnosis to get help for alcohol use disorder. The helpquitalcohol.com helpline is a confidential and convenient resource for those seeking addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one. Our goal is to offer guidance and information on treatment options tailored to individual needs.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that can develop when someone with alcohol use disorder suddenly stops drinking. Alcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis suddenly stops drinking alcohol. This article discusses alcohol withdrawal, its symptoms, and potential complications. It also provides an overview of the alcohol withdrawal timeline process and when to discuss your drinking with your healthcare provider.