Alcohol Withdrawal

What is Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol has an effect on brain and nervous system over time. If somebody who has been consuming alcohol heavily or regularly for a long time suddenly stops or reduces their intake significantly, they may experience alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

When somebody takes alcohol regularly, their body slowly becomes habitual. With sudden decrease in the intake, their nervous system may become overactive and the body may try to readjust, leading to withdrawal symptoms.

It is not necessary that anyone who drinks alcohol will experience these. It depends on long-term heavy intake and dependence. Some people may have mild symptoms that resolve on its own within a few days, while it may be serious enough for others to seek urgent medical advice.

A person usually starts noticing the symptoms in 6 to 24 hours of the last consumption. Though this time may vary depending on how much alcohol was taken and for how long, their general wellbeing, if they have been taking any medicines, or if they had experienced withdrawal symptoms before.

In some situations, alcohol detox UK treatment may require medical supervision, especially when the risk of complications or severe withdrawal symptoms is high.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe and potentially life-threatening complications.

What happens commonly is, symptoms develop slowly in the first few hours when the person stops or reduces the intake. These may worsen over the days before improving

Early and Mild Symptoms

As the body starts adjusting to the absence of alcohol, there is overactivity of the nervous system that produces the early and mild symptoms. Even though these are mild and are not dangerous, they can still feel distressing and uncomfortable. These include,

• Anxiety or nervousness
• Feeling restlessness or irritated
• Difficulty sleeping
• Problems with concentration
• Increased heart rate
• Trembling, shaking, or sweating
• Nausea, vomiting, and headaches
• Reduced appetite

Some people may also feel emotionally overwhelmed, can become more sensitive to light or sound, or notice mood changes.

Moderate Withdrawal Symptoms

As a person progresses towards withdrawal, the symptoms may become more intense and start to affect the physical and mental wellbeing. A person may experience severe tremors or shaking, increased blood pressure, panic-like symptoms, heavy sweating, difficulty staying hydrated, extreme tiredness, confusion, agitation, tiredness, or restlessness.

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

Some people may experience severe withdrawal symptoms, such that they become dangerous and need emergency medical treatment. These include,

• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
• Seizures or fits
• Very fast heartbeat
• Intense shaking or tremors
• Severe confusion
• Feeling disoriented or unaware about the surroundings
• Fever
• Extreme agitation

Delirium tremens (DTs) is the most serious complication of alcohol withdrawal. This may present as hallucinations, confusion, severe agitation, not being aware of the surrounding, and sweating. If not treated urgently, it may prove to be life-threatening.

Withdrawal Timeline

Weaning off from alcohol is not same for everyone. In many cases, people begin to experience the early symptoms after the last drink and may become more noticeable in the next 1-3 days.

Some symptoms improve within a few days. However, symptoms such as sleep disturbance, anxiety, changes in the mood can sometimes continue for longer periods.

Because, in some people these symptoms may quickly worsen, it is better to manage alcohol withdrawal under medical advice or support

Risks and Complications of Alcohol Withdrawal

When symptoms become severe during alcohol withdrawal, it places the body and nervous system under a significant stress.

Along with the symptoms discussed above, it may also lead to lack to nutrition, injuries due to falls or confusion, issues with heart rhythm, sleep disturbances, etc.

Certain people are more prone to these complications. This includes the people who have been drinking heavily and regularly, have had withdrawal symptoms before, have a history of withdrawal seizures, and older adults.

Going through alcohol withdrawal multiple times can sometimes make future withdrawal episodes harder to manage. In some people, the nervous system becomes more sensitive over time, which may increase the risk of severe symptoms.

Treatment Options for Alcohol Withdrawal

The goal of the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms are to reduce the symptoms, prevention of complications, support physical recovery, and better safety during detoxification.

Medical Supervision and Alcohol Detox

People who have mild symptoms may recover with monitoring, hydration, supportive care, and rest. However, people who are at a higher risk of complications, may need supervised alcohol detox UK treatment.

Medical supervision may help in monitoring symptoms closely, reducing the risk of seizures (fits) or severe withdrawal, managing dehydration or problems with nutrition, adjusting the treatment if symptoms worsen, and offer emotional and psychological support.

Treatment can be done at home with medical guidance, through outpatient addiction services, or in hospital or special detox units. This majorly depends on the severity of the symptoms.

Medication

Sometimes it might be important to prescribe medicines to deal with withdrawal symptoms. One such example is, diazepam. It belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines and acts by calming activity in the brain and nervous system.

However, they are used carefully and under strict medical supervision as their repeated or prolonged use may increase the risks of dependence or withdrawal symptoms on their own.

Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you based on the severity of your symptoms and how your body responds.

Nutritional Support and Recovery

Consuming alcohol for longer periods can cause dehydration, poor diet, and nutritional deficiencies. Your doctor/GP may consider replacement of fluids, vitamin supplements, thiamine, nutritional support, and sleep support to help you cope.

Recovering from alcohol withdrawal may also involve longer-term treatment and support after withdrawal symptoms improve. This can include talking therapy, counselling, support groups, prevention of relapse, and addiction services.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Care

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms must not be ignored, especially when they become severe or worsen quickly.

Medical advice should also be taken if:

• Symptoms become worse over a short period of time
• There has been severe alcohol withdrawal in the past
• There is any medical history of physical and mental health conditions
• There is noticeable dehydration or poor nutrition
• In case of symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures, breathing problems, or confusion