Alcohol withdrawal is a condition with symptoms alcoholics might develop when they decide to stop drinking, according to FamilyDoctor.org. This syndrome typically affects people who have been drinking for weeks, months or years. Alcohol withdrawal is a serious condition that a medical professional must treat. Patients who show the signs and symptoms of this syndrome go to a hospital for treatment.
Mood and Behavior Disorders
Alcohol depresses brain function and prevents the production of stress hormones. Once a patient stops drinking alcohol, inhibition of brain activity stops and then reverses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. During withdrawal, the brain produces excessive amounts of stress hormones. This makes the patient anxious, irritable and agitated. They may become aggressive and act violently. Alcohol withdrawal can cause patients to be moody and angry.
Sleeping Problems
Patients who suffer from alcohol withdrawal develop sleeping problems, according to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. Patients can experience insomnia, which is the inability to fall asleep, and vivid nightmares. These symptoms result from excessive stimulation of the central nervous system--the brain is too active to allow the patient to relax and rest. The insomnia and nightmares can lead to a severe lack of sleep and fatigue.
Delirium Tremens
One of the more serious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens, or DTs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Delirium tremens is characterized by progressively worsening hallucinations, confusion, fever and generalized seizures. DTs usually develop two to four days after the patient stops drinking, and occurs in approximately 5 percent of alcoholic patients. This symptom can be fatal, and requires expert medical care to prevent death.
Digestive Symptoms
Withdrawal from alcohol can cause nausea, vomiting and a loss of appetite in some cases, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The patient usually develops these symptoms six hours to two days after stopping drinking. The patient may be unable to keep down food or may stop eating. If this occurs, patients need intravenous nourishment to prevent dehydration and maintain proper nutrition.
Hyperactive Nervous System
When chronic alcoholics stop drinking, a specific part of the nervous system, called the autonomic nervous system, becomes overstimulated. A hyperactive autonomic system can cause excessive sweating, rapid pulse, changes in blood pressure and slight tremors throughout the body, according to Dr. Max Bayard and other researchers in a 2004 article in "American Family Physician." If these symptoms persist or become severe, emergency medical care is required.
