Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

By Cheryl Kimball

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: What You Need to Know

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines withdrawal as the syndrome of often painful physical and psychological symptoms that follows the discontinuance of an addicting drug.

If you are a heavy drinker who wants to quit, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that can range from mild to severe depending on how much and how long you drank.

In this blog post, I will briefly explain what causes alcohol withdrawal, what are the common symptoms and timeline, and how to treat them safely and effectively.

 **Important** Because acute alcohol withdrawal can cause life-threatening health complications; it is advised that you get expert assistance from a medical doctor or an addiction specialist before you stop using alcohol. They can evaluate your condition and offer you the appropriate medication, therapy, and support.

What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down your brain function and alters your nerve communication. When you drink alcohol regularly for a long time, your brain adapts to this state and produces more stimulating chemicals to balance it out.

However, when you suddenly stop or reduce your alcohol intake, your brain is still in an overstimulated mode. This causes an imbalance between your brain chemistry and your body's response, resulting in withdrawal symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms and Timeline of Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person and may begin a few hours to a few days after stopping drinking. They include physical symptoms like **shaking, sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, sleep difficulties, and changes in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing**. They also include mood and behavioral symptoms like **anxiety, irritability, agitation, depression, hallucinations, and tremors**. Symptoms may peak within 24 to 48 hours and may require medical treatment.

Some people may experience more severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as **seizures**, **severe tremors**, **increased heart rate**, **fever**, or **delirium tremens**. Delirium tremens is a rare but serious condition that involves a change in mental status, severe agitation, confusion, and sometimes hallucinations.

The timeline of alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be roughly divided into three stages:

- Stage 1: Mild symptoms can start within 6 hours of stopping drinking. They include anxiety, shaky hands, headache, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and sweating.

- Stage 2: Moderate to severe symptoms can start within 12 to 48 hours of stopping drinking. They include hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), seizures (convulsions), increased blood pressure, fast heart rate, and fever.

- Stage 3: Severe symptoms can start within 48 to 72 hours of stopping drinking. They include delirium tremens (confusion, agitation, hallucinations), severe tremors, and autonomic instability (fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and breathing).

The duration and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms depend on several factors, such as:

- How much and how long you drank

- Your age, gender, weight, and health status

- Your genetic makeup and family history of alcoholism

- Your use of other drugs or medications

- Your level of support and coping skills

How to Treat Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

The best way to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms is to seek professional help from a doctor or an addiction specialist. It is important to detox safely. This will also increase your chances for a successful recovery.  You may want to consider entering an inpatient rehab facility where you can be monitored and treated with medications.

There is no need to suffer through the acute withdrawal stage when there are medications that can help you through it.

Some of the medications that are used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

- Benzodiazepines: These are sedatives that help reduce anxiety, seizures, tremors, and insomnia. They also prevent delirium tremens. Examples are diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and oxazepam (Serax).

- Anticonvulsants: These are drugs that prevent or treat seizures. Examples are carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproate (Depakote), gabapentin (Neurontin), and phenobarbital.

- Beta-blockers: These are drugs that lower blood pressure and heart rate. Examples are propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), and metoprolol (Lopressor).

- Alpha-blockers: These are drugs that lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. Examples are clonidine (Catapres) and prazosin (Minipress).

- Antipsychotics: These are drugs that reduce hallucinations and agitation. Examples are haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and risperidone (Risperdal).

In addition to medication, you may also benefit from therapy and support groups. These can help you cope with the psychological and emotional aspects of alcohol withdrawal, such as cravings, depression, anxiety, guilt, and shame. They can also help you prevent a relapse and maintain sobriety.

Some of the therapy and support options that are available for people with alcohol withdrawal include:

- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This is a type of therapy that helps you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that lead to alcohol use. It also teaches you coping skills and relapse prevention strategies.

- Motivational interviewing (MI): This is a type of therapy that helps you explore your ambivalence and motivation to change your alcohol use. It also helps you set realistic and achievable goals and plan for action.

- Contingency management (CM): This is a type of therapy that rewards you for positive behaviors, such as staying sober, attending treatment, or completing tasks. The rewards can be vouchers, prizes, or privileges.

- 12-step programs: These are support groups that follow the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or other similar organizations. They provide you with a network of peers who share their experiences, strengths, and hopes. They also offer you guidance and support from a sponsor, who is a person who has been sober for a long time.

- Family therapy: This is a type of therapy that involves your family members or significant others in your treatment. It helps you improve your communication, resolve conflicts, and rebuild trust and intimacy.

- Individual Therapy: An Addiction Recovery Specialist or personal life coach can help you continue your recovery after the initial detox period.

Conclusion:

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the unpleasant and potentially dangerous effects that occur when you stop or reduce your alcohol intake after a period of heavy drinking. They can range from mild to severe depending on how much and how long you drank.

The best way to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms is to seek professional help from a doctor or an addiction specialist. They can provide you with medication, therapy, and support to help you overcome the physical and mental challenges of alcohol withdrawal.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol withdrawal symptoms, do not hesitate to reach out for help. You are not alone, and there is hope for recovery.