Withdrawal symptoms can occur with or without a formal diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. Having a family history of the condition also increases the likelihood of developing alcohol dependence. When someone stops drinking abruptly or significantly reduces alcohol use, this change disrupts the brain’s neurotransmitter balance.
Non-substance addictions
However, there are two notably concerning symptoms of withdrawal that are linked to the occasional death of recovering alcoholics. Your provider may want to do a physical exam and may request blood and urine tests. These tests give your provider information about your overall health. Doctors ask to detect health risks, medication interactions, liver issues, and AUD symptoms.
Delirium tremens
- A majority of patients are profoundly disoriented, indifferent, and inattentive; some exhibit an agitated delirium related to alcohol withdrawal.
- The DTs is a health emergency that can emerge rather suddenly and without notice in about 5% of those in detox.
- Some people continue to drink despite these signs, putting themselves at risk for alcohol overdose, also known as alcohol poisoning.
- Two key players are gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which calms the brain, and glutamate, which stimulates it.
- Other medications, such as barbiturates and anti-seizure medications, may also be used to manage specific symptoms, such as seizures and agitation.
Seizures typically last from a few seconds to several minutes. Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability, and up-to-date clinical standards. If you have delirium tremens, confusion is one of the key symptoms you’ll experience. You’ll have trouble understanding what’s happening to or around you.
Types of Alcohol: Which Ones Are Safe to Drink and Which Ones Are Dangerous?
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and duration, depending on the individual’s drinking history and overall health.
- We’ll also answer some of the many things you might wonder about the recovery from this particular substance abuse.
- Proper hydration and nutrition help stabilize electrolyte levels and support brain function during this vulnerable period.
- Some people experience prolonged withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia and mood changes, that can last for weeks or months.
Alcohol withdrawal can be managed with medication provided by a certified healthcare practitioner. Potential complications Alcohol Withdrawal of alcohol withdrawal include seizures, delirium tremens, and death. Seizures can occur within 24 to 48 hours after the last drink, while delirium tremens, a severe and potentially life-threatening condition, can occur within 48 to 72 hours.
Our Find a Provider tool makes it easy to search Cleveland Clinic’s trusted network. 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. The only definitive way to prevent DTs is to avoid alcohol entirely.