Delirium tremens is a severe reaction to alcohol withdrawal that occurs in people who have been addicted to alcohol for more than 10 years, according to MedlinePlus. It is characterized by mood swings, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation and can even cause seizures and neurological changes. Once a person reaches a stage of alcoholism where DTs are a risk, they may already suffer from malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
Bland Foods
Electrolyte imbalance during alcohol withdrawal is another common problem and is responsible for a host of symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain. Bananas can help replace electrolytes and replenish potassium stores. Soft, bland foods, such as plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast and crackers may help satiate feelings of hunger and are less likely to cause gastrointestinal problems -- or cause a relapse of gastrointestinal problems after symptoms have passed.
Caffeine
Acute alcohol withdrawal is associated with headaches and dehydration. Headache can occur when blood vessels in the brain become dilated. Caffeine is a known vasoconstrictor, an agent that causes the narrowing of blood vessels. In healthy patients, caffeine has been shown to reduce headaches more quickly than ibuprofen, according to a 2000 study published by "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics." The problem with delirium tremens, however, is that it's impossible to predict how the body will react to caffeine since it's also a mild diuretic, which can worsen dehydration and aggravate gastrointestinal discomfort. For a person going through alcohol withdrawal that has a headache and cannot keep down ibuprofen, sipping a caffeinated cola, tea or coffee may reduce headache pain.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a dietary mineral responsible for regulating parts of the nervous system. It's an easy mineral to get from your diet and is found in abundance in fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds and whole grains. Hypomagnesemia, severely low magnesium levels, occurs in about 80 percent of alcoholics with delirium tremens, according to "Irwin and Rippe's Intensive Care Medicine," co-authored by Richard S. Irwin, M.D. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that symptoms of magnesium deficiency include insomnia, anxiety, restless leg syndrome, irritability, nausea and vomiting, which also happen to be symptoms of the DTs.
Considerations
Long-term drinking causes chronic imbalances in blood sugar levels. When your body suddenly stops getting large amounts of sugar through alcohol, it can worsen symptoms of lethargy and anxiety. You should avoid foods high in sugar including candy and baked snacks, as well as processed fast foods, all of which can aggravate blood sugar levels.
References
- "Irwin and Rippe's Intensive Care Medicine"; Richard S. Irwin; 2008
- MedlinePlus: Magnesium
- Oregon Counseling: Biological Impact of Alcohol Use; Michaele P. Dunlap, Psy.D;
- PubMed.gov: The Effect of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal on the Serum Potassium and Total Body Potassium in Heavy Drinkers; W.S. Watson; October 1984
- "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Ibuprofen Plus Caffeine in the Treatment of Tension-Type Headache; Seymour Diamond, MD; 2000
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium; June 2009
