Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range from mild to severe, with severity depending on the amount and length of alcohol consumption. Delirium Tremens (DT) can be life-threatening and requires medical attention. Symptoms can include irritability, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, and hallucinations. Seeking medical care is crucial for those with a long history of alcohol use. Maintaining sobriety is aided by support groups and treatment centers. Continuing to drink is a greater risk than quitting under medical care.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe. The degree of severity and number of symptoms often depend on how long a person has habitually consumed alcohol and how much alcohol they have consumed regularly. People who have consumed small amounts of alcohol over a short period of time usually experience only mild symptoms. Those who have used large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time may have extremely serious symptoms, called Delirium Tremens (DT), which can be life-threatening.
Mild withdrawal symptoms include irritability, anxiety, fatigue, mild craving for alcohol, and insomnia. People may feel slightly shivering or have cold, sweaty hands. Stopping drinking can also affect your appetite, making it difficult to eat, as it can cause both nausea and vomiting.
The most significant symptoms include the possibility of experiencing DTs. People may have dilated pupils, involuntary movements and tremors. If a person is at risk for DTs, then they should seek out a nursing facility or hospital, where symptoms can be addressed and medical emergencies managed.
DTs can create confusion and disturbing visual hallucinations. People may also experience heart arrhythmias or palpitations, high fever, and seizures. A medical facility can stop many of these symptoms by giving low-dose anticonvulsants or barbiturates during the first few days of alcohol withdrawal.
It is extremely important that people with a long history of alcohol use retire under medical care. Irregular heart rhythms and seizures can cause death if not addressed. Untreated DTs can cause the death of up to 20% of people experiencing withdrawal.
The physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to occur about 12 hours after a person’s last drink and peak within two to three days. Insomnia, mood swings, and fatigue can linger for several months after one has “dried out.” Persistent symptoms can be psychological as well as physical. Since it’s estimated that as many as half of all alcoholics drink to “medicate” a psychiatric condition, treatment for persistent conditions can lead to greater psychological well-being and comfort.
Maintaining sobriety is further aided by regular attendance at alcoholic support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Some find that voluntary hospitalization in a treatment center is helpful in maintaining sobriety during the first few months.
While it is important to remember that people wishing to stop consuming alcohol should seek medical attention, this should not be seen as an encouragement to continue drinking. The risk of continuing to drink, which can lead to premature death, is much higher than that of a person who stops drinking. So fear of severe symptoms shouldn’t stop a person who wants to quit drinking from quitting. The person would simply have to do it under the care of a doctor and can do it in virtually any hospital in the country.
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