Alcohol Detox: Process, Effects, and Timeline

When the supply of alcohol is suddenly stopped or decreased, withdrawal symptoms can develop. The main symptoms of DTs often take between three to seven days to go away. In severe cases, you may experience some symptoms for weeks to months. One of the priorities in treating this condition is to lower nervous system activity. A healthcare provider will treat this using drugs that reduce how active your CNS is.

Medication for Alcohol Withdrawal

Still, people experiencing these withdrawal symptoms are generally fully conscious and can think clearly. In some cases, AWS can be a medical emergency and — if complications arise — potentially life threatening. Common medications include benzodiazepines to help treat symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. You might also take anti-seizure meds and antipsychotics, along with other drugs. It’s also important to note that delirium tremens can be life-threatening. This depends on the individual and the results of laboratory tests that their doctor may order.

Diagnosing alcohol withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal is common, but delirium tremens only occurs in 5% of people who have alcohol withdrawal. Delirium tremens is dangerous, killing as many as 1 out of every 20 people who develop its symptoms. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal typically improve within five days, though a small number of patients may have prolonged symptoms, lasting weeks. Alcohol withdrawal is easy to diagnose if you have typical symptoms that occur after you stop heavy, habitual drinking.

Deterrence and Patient Education

Take our free, 5-minute alcohol misuse self-assessment https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/relation-between-alcohol-and-dementia/ below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of an AUD. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

• Symptoms can be mild, severe, or even life-threatening, requiring immediate treatment.
• These symptoms usually peak in intensity on the second or third day of being sober and tend to improve significantly between 2 to 7 days without alcohol use unless more severe symptoms develop.
• The doctor may ask for evidence that there has been a decrease in alcohol use after regular heavy use.
• Symptoms outside of the anticipated withdrawal period or resumption of alcohol use also warrants referral to an addiction specialist or inpatient treatment program.
• Blood tests and imaging tests can show if organs, such as the liver, have been affected by a person’s intake of alcohol.
• Proposed regiments include fixed dosing with as-needed doses available.

What is delirium tremens?

• This may include medications, therapy, or both and can be offered in a variety of settings, both inpatient, outpatient, or a hybrid model.
• AUD is the most common substance use disorder in the U.S., affecting 28.8 million adults.
• The latter is known to be caused by a combination of genetic, psychological, and social factors.

Those with severe or complicated symptoms should be referred to the nearest emergency department for inpatient hospitalization. You’ve taken an important first step toward recovery by deciding to stop drinking. Now, try to keep in mind that even though withdrawal symptoms may be unpleasant, they’re temporary, and treatment is available during this time.

What causes alcohol withdrawal?

While some of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are similar to a hangover, they are not the same condition. People with alcohol withdrawal syndrome can have a wide variety of symptoms, depending on how much alcohol they drank, their body type, sex, age, and any underlying medical conditions. DTs can develop in anyone who meets the criteria for heavy alcohol use. For people AMAB, that means drinking three or more drinks per day and 15 or more drinks per week. For people AFAB, that means drinking two or more drinks per day and eight or more drinks per week.

• You may also know that you need help with alcohol misuse when you begin experiencing consequences directly related to your alcohol misuse—but you still can’t stop or cut back on the amount that you’re drinking.
• Once you stop drinking, though, the sudden change may come as a shock to your brain, which altered some of its chemistry to make up for the alcohol’s presence.
• It’s difficult to predict who will and who won’t experience alcohol withdrawal — and how severe it will be.
• It also provides an overview of the alcohol withdrawal timeline process and when to discuss your drinking with your healthcare provider.
• In addition to pharmacotherapy, all the patients attended four group therapy sessions which are held once a week.

Alcohol (ethanol) depresses (slows down) your central nervous system (CNS). If you consistently consume significant amounts of alcohol, your CNS gets used to this effect. Your CNS must work harder to overcome the depressant effects of alcohol to keep your body functioning. Each of these symptoms can increase in intensity depending on the severity of the withdrawal. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.

What can I expect if I have delirium tremens?

Alcohol consumption spans a spectrum from low-risk to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome poses a significant clinical challenge arising from the spectrum of AUD—a prevalent condition affecting a substantial portion of the United States population. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a clinical condition that may arise following the cessation or reduction of regular, heavy alcohol consumption.

What is the prognosis for alcohol withdrawal?

Still, if you’re experiencing alcohol withdrawal, it’s essential to have your symptoms evaluated by a medical professional. Moderate symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may last up to 6 days, whereas severe symptoms may last for 5 to 7 days. Patients presenting with alcohol withdrawal syndrome should receive thiamine and folate supplementation as they are often nutritionally deficient. If your pattern of drinking results alcohol withdrawal in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. If you have withdrawal symptoms from drinking, then you have consumed enough alcohol to damage other organs.

What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?

One drink is equal to 14 grams (g.) of pure alcohol, which can take many different forms because some forms have a higher concentration of alcohol than others. We’ll be able to tell you if your insurance provider is in network with an American Addiction Centers treatment facility. Some researchers note that these prolonged but lower-intensity symptoms can even persist for 2 or more years — especially symptoms that affect your sleep.