Alcohol Withdrawal occurs when a person who regularly drinks a lot of alcohol suddenly stops drinking or reduces the amount they drink. People often show symptoms of anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. If you have severe symptoms such as seizures or hallucinations, you should see a doctor immediately because it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal usually occurs after 6 hours or 2-3 days of cessation of alcohol consumption. Patients often show the following symptoms:
- Anxiety, depression, or mood swings
- Fatigue, trembling hands
- Headache, dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting
- Sweating a lot
- cannot sleep
- Heart beats faster
- High blood pressure
In addition to the above symptoms, patients may experience a severe condition called Delirium Tremens (DT), which usually occurs 48-72 hours after stopping alcohol consumption. If the following symptoms occur, see a doctor immediately as it can be life-threatening.
- Feeling very confused or restless
- Have a fever
- whip
- Hallucinations ofthe senses , including touch, vision, and hearing, such as hearing sounds or seeing images that do not actually exist.
Causes of Alcohol Withdrawal
Drinking a lot of alcohol changes the chemical makeup of the brain, which can lead to a desire to drink more and more alcohol, leading to addiction. Drinking a lot of alcohol also affects the central nervous system, causing the body to crave alcohol all the time and not be able to adjust to the absence of alcohol. When you stop drinking, alcohol withdrawal can follow.
People in the following groups may be at higher risk of Alcohol Withdrawal than the general population.
- Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol
- Have a history of alcohol withdrawal
- Have some health problems
Diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal
If someone close to you shows symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal, you should see a doctor immediately to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. Initially, the doctor will ask about the patient’s health history, alcohol drinking behavior, the time when the patient stopped drinking or reduced the amount of alcohol consumed, and any abnormal symptoms that occur. Then, other methods of diagnosis may be used as follows:
- Perform a preliminary physical examination to check for signs of alcohol withdrawal, such as hand tremors, arrhythmia, dehydration, and fever.
- Blood or urine tests to check for other toxins in the body.
- A clinical scale called the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) may be used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal.
Treatment of alcohol withdrawal
Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal depends primarily on the severity of the condition, and can be done as follows:
- Patients with mild symptoms
can be treated at home as usual, but should stay with family or friends because they need someone to help them if their symptoms flare up. The living area should be quiet and suitable for resting and convalescing. In addition, patients should strictly follow up with their doctor for follow-up appointments. Doctors usually do blood tests and check for other abnormalities that may be caused by drinking a lot of alcohol regularly. In addition, doctors may recommend that patients seek advice from a specialist to treat their alcohol addiction. Some patients may also need to take sedatives to relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms. - Patients with severe symptoms
Patients with severe symptoms need to be hospitalized under close medical supervision. Doctors will monitor blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and levels of various blood chemicals. Doctors often prescribe sedatives to help with alcohol withdrawal. Patients who are unable to eat or take their own medicine may need intravenous fluids and medications.
Complications of alcohol withdrawal
Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal usually experience the following complications:
- Dehydration
- Water and electrolyte imbalance in the body
- Infection
- Pancreatitis
- Acidosis from alcoholconsumption
Patients who experience the above symptoms, especially those who have complications from severe alcohol withdrawal or Delirium Tremens, should see a doctor immediately because the symptoms may become more severe and life-threatening.
Prevention of alcohol withdrawal
Preventing Alcohol Withdrawal is easy. Just control your alcohol consumption to an appropriate level and do not drink in large quantities for a long period of time.
Generally, adults should not drink more than 2 standard drinks per day. Different types of alcoholic beverages usually have different amounts of alcohol. One standard drink of alcoholic beverage is equivalent to approximately 10 grams of alcohol. On average, this is equivalent to approximately 360 milliliters of beer, approximately 150 milliliters of wine, and approximately 45 milliliters of spirits.
If you or someone around you is found to be addicted to drinking alcohol or suffering from chronic alcoholism , see a doctor immediately to receive proper treatment and reduce the chances of alcohol withdrawal.
