For those struggling with alcohol addiction, choosing to quit is an important milestone. But the way forward is often extremely difficult, thanks in large part to alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Alcohol withdrawal pertains to the physical and mental problems the user gets when they cut back significantly on their drinking. Withdrawal can be extremely taxing to the person experiencing it, so proper management of symptoms, as well as external support from loved ones, is key.
But before you take any more concrete steps to address the addiction, it may help you to learn more about AWS. Here’s a guide containing everything you need to know about alcoholism withdrawal symptoms, the timeline AWS usually follows, and what treatment for AWS looks like. Read on below to prepare yourself and your loved ones for this difficult stage your the battle against addiction.
Dependence on Alcohol Is What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal
First, you must understand how alcohol withdrawal syndrome happens. Alcohol is responsible for what’s called a “depressive effect” on your central nervous system, which slows down its functions. When someone consumes large amounts of alcohol on a daily basis, it results in a change in the way their nerves behave. Both the brain and body work extra hard to stay “awake” and functional while all the alcohol goes into the person’s system. And soon enough, the central nervous system simply adjusts to the regular presence of alcohol.
Withdrawal happens when the person suddenly stops drinking cold turkey or significantly reduces the amount of alcohol that usually goes in their system. Their body, which is already so used to the alcohol, has a hard time adjusting without it. That’s why quitting one’s alcohol addiction isn’t as simple as having the willpower to do so. If you’re experiencing AWS, it’s best to get formal medical treatment to manage the symptoms and to prevent any withdrawal-related complications.
Alcohol Withdrawal Has a Timeline
Another important thing to know about AWS is that different symptoms of it may manifest over certain periods of time. There are certain symptoms that you can watch out for as early as 6-12 hours after the last ingestion, like anxiety, headaches, or nausea. From 12-24 hours post-ingestion, different symptoms, like hand tremors, may manifest. The 48-hour mark is when you should watch out for symptoms like severe insomnia, fever, and what’s called “delirium tremens” (detailed below).
It usually takes about 5 days for the alcohol withdrawal symptoms to improve. But this also depends on other factors, like how much alcohol one regularly ingests, one’s medical history, and any co-occurring health conditions. Suffice to say, AWS is something that a person needs to ride out longer than one night.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Can Range from Mild to Severe
There are also different classifications for particular AWS symptoms. They can be mild in nature, or they can be severe enough to require hospitalization.
The mild symptoms include sweating, shaky hands, headaches, sleeplessness, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety. In these cases, it’s possible to treat withdrawal at home and in the company of someone you trust. Your doctor may conduct daily checkups and prescribe medication to treat the individual symptoms.
The more serious symptoms, on the other hand, include high blood pressure, high fever, seizures, excessive sweating, and delirium tremens. In these cases, the person experiencing withdrawal must be hospitalized so that their health condition can be closely monitored. It may be necessary to run blood tests, to administer intravenous fluids, and to medicate the patient in order to prevent seizures. If someone you know is experiencing symptoms of this degree of severity, call 911 or drive them to the emergency room.
The Most Dangerous Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Are Called Delirium Tremens
Delirium tremens, or DTs, are severe symptoms that can manifest between 48 and 72 hours of alcohol withdrawal. The person going through alcohol withdrawal may experience DTs as either visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations. DTs often come with other worrisome symptoms, like high blood pressure, fever, a racing heart, seizures, extreme agitation, and extreme confusion.
Though DTs only occur in about 5% of people experiencing AWS, they are still worth watching out for. Immediate medical help for DTs is crucial, especially if the patient is in poor physical condition.
A Doctor Will Formally Diagnose Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
If you want to get your AWS treated, you will need to consult a medical doctor whose expertise includes alcohol withdrawal. The doctor will typically ask questions about your medical history, drinking history, how much alcohol you regularly ingest, and whether you’ve gone through withdrawal before.
The initial checkup for physical symptoms may be followed by a toxicology screen, a test to see how much alcohol there is in your body. The doctor may also administer what’s called the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol, or CIWA-Ar, to determine how serious the symptoms are. Depending on the result, you will have to undertake either inpatient or outpatient treatment for your withdrawal. The Sincliar Method has been shown to be effective when it comes to the struggle with alcohol addiction, (you can find more details here about this approach) this method uses a medication called naltrexone and targets the brain so that cravings associated with alcoholism are reduced.
Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal Can Happen at a Rehab Center
Though your local hospital may have its own treatment facility for AWS, you can also seek services at a dedicated rehabilitation center. There are many rehab centers throughout the US that offer a range of high-quality healthcare services related to addiction treatment, including treatment of AWS. Pacific Ridge has a great support team that is ready to help you get your life back.
There may be a stigma associated with rehab, but the best centers offer expert medical care, structure, community support, and privacy. All of these combined will help a patient overcome AWS and, ultimately, the greater problem of alcohol addiction.
Several obstacles may be in the way of total healing from alcohol addiction, and one of the hardest is withdrawal. But greater knowledge of what to expect during AWS will definitely make it easier on everyone involved. Here’s to wishing that you or your loved one struggling with alcohol withdrawal will ultimately get the medical care and support that you need.
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