Each year more than one and a half million people in the United States undergo treatment for alcohol dependence, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Most of these people experience alcohol withdrawal, a condition that occurs when a person suddenly stops drinking or drastically reduces alcohol consumption after having used alcohol for an extended period. Some people have only mild withdrawal symptoms, while others experience serious complications that can be life-threatening.
Causes
Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down your body's normal functions and responses. When you consume large amounts of alcohol over a prolonged period, your central nervous system adjusts to counteract the effects of the alcohol. Suddenly stopping or decreasing the amount of alcohol you consume throws your brain into a state of chemical imbalance. Alcohol withdrawal is your body's reaction to this chemical imbalance.
Features
Alcohol withdrawal occurs primarily in adults, but it can occur in children and teenagers. If you drink heavily, you are at greater risk of developing alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. If you have previously gone through withdrawal, you are more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms each time you stop drinking. You are also at greater risk of having severe withdrawal symptoms if you have other medical problems.
Mild-to-Moderate Symptoms
The most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include shakiness or tremors, sweating, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, irritability and insomnia. You may also experience fatigue, depression, headaches, nightmares, mood swings, confusion and loss of appetite. These symptoms typically begin 5 to 10 hours after the last drink, but they can occur days later, according to the National Institutes of Health. Symptoms usually peak within 48 to 72 hours and may linger for weeks. You may not experience all the symptoms.
Severe Symptoms
Severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include hallucinosis, fever, seizures and delirium tremens. Hallucinosis typically occurs within 1 to 2 days of stopping or decreasing alcohol consumption. When you experience hallucinosis, you hear, see or feel things that are not present, even though you are completely conscious and aware of your surroundings. Seizures may begin within 1 to 2 days of decreased alcohol consumption and continue for several hours. Delirium tremens is a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure, disorientation, rapid heartbeat, extreme agitation and fever. This condition may develop within 1 to 4 days of the beginning of withdrawal and can last for 3 to 4 days. Approximately 5 percent of people who experience delirium tremens die from it, reports the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Warning
If you experience alcohol withdrawal, you should be under the care of a medical professional. Even if your symptoms aren't severe, you may have alcohol-related damage to your heart, liver or gastrointestinal tract. Severe symptoms usually require hospitalization, and delirium tremens often requires treatment in an intensive care unit.
