Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be very distressing depending on how much alcohol one consumes on a daily basis.
When you have finally decided to quit drinking alcohol there are quite a few things that you need to take into consideration, one of the most important ones – alcohol withdrawal symptoms. While physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may last up to a week, psychological symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may last for many weeks if not taken care of.
Reasons for Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be caused by an excessive alcohol consumption during an extended period of time. It is also worth of noting that intensity of symptoms can vary depending of number of factors like gender, duration of substance abuse, amount and quantity of alcohol consumption.
Alcohol Withdrawal for Women
Women are more vulnerable to alcohol withdrawal. If a woman of average weight who consumed six drinks a day for one month can cause a minor withdrawal, consuming fifteen drinks a day can cause a major withdrawal.
Alcohol Withdrawal for Men
Men have higher tolerance towards alcohol withdrawal effects. An average male can expect minor withdrawal if he drank eight drinks a month and a major withdrawal if had more than eighteen drinks a day.
For both genders major alcohol withdrawal may result in a lethal outcome if not taken care of by professionals. Even under the care of professionals the possibility of lethal outcome is reduced but not eliminated completely.
Why Do Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Occur?
As someone drinks, levels of dopamine are elevated in the brain, resulting in a flood of pleasant feelings. Alcohol can elevate mood, increase self-confidence, and lower inhibitions. As alcohol leaves the bloodstream, these feelings dissipate, causing a variety of symptoms and side effects some of which can lead to a lethal outcome if not treated professionally.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms – Stage 1
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal on the first stage start after seven or eight hours since a person’s last drink and include but are not limited to shakes throughout the body, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, mood swings, depression, stomach pains & vomiting.
After twelve-to-twenty-four hours of the withdrawal process alcoholic hallucinosis takes place. Hallucinations mostly occur with long-term chronic alcoholics, during most of the instances hallucinations are visual but can also be tactile and auditory. After 24 to 48 hours hallucinations end, and the second stage of withdrawal begins.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms – Stage 2
Symptoms of the second stage of alcohol withdrawal are of greater severity and cause great discomfort. During the end of this stage symptoms peak and can be lethal if not managed by professionals. Symptoms include: increase in blood pressure and body temperature, increased sweating and mood disturbances. During the end of stage 2 and beginning of stage 3 Delirium Tremens may occur.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms – Stage 3
The last and most severe withdrawal stage lasts on average six days. During this stage, 30% of people experience hallucinations, cardiac arrest and Delirium Tremens (DTs).
Delirium Tremens is a series of mental or nervous system changes that occur when a person stops drinking alcohol after drinking heavily.
Delirium Tremens symptoms include:
- Continuous Nightmares
- Major Confusion and Disturbance
- Disorientation
- Visual and/or auditory hallucinations
- Tactile hallucinations
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- Heavy sweating
- Other signs of autonomic hyperactivity
DTs most often occurs in individuals who drank excessively for more than ten years and stopped suddenly. DTs symptoms often manifest within 48-to-96 hours after the last drink, but they can occur up to seven-to-ten days after the last drink, in some cases. Some people can experience DTs for 24 hours while other may experience them for up to five days, depending on the amount of time one has been heavily consuming alcohol.
According to The New England Journal of Medicine, even if DTs are managed by healthcare professionals they can result in up to 15% mortality, although this rate can be greatly reduced if appropriate diagnosis is assigned in time.
After 7 Days of Alcohol Withdrawal
After an average seven-day period of withdrawal physical symptoms tend to decline in intensity, although psychological symptoms can last weeks without the required treatment.
Symptoms during withdrawal from alcohol may cause severe, sustained discomfort and complications as well as lethal instances.
Professionally Managed Alcohol Withdrawal
Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centres offers an intensive residential addiction treatment program for alcohol addiction as well as for concurrent mental health disorders, medical detox and addiction intervention. Contact us with confidence. The primary goal of our admissions advisors is to provide all the information needed to make the best decision possible in treating you or a loved ones addiction problem.
