Alcohol Withdrawal

To understand alcohol withdrawal we must know what changes happen in the body under the influence of alcohol. The nervous system becomes dependent on alcohol. This process of dependence is somewhat complex. The brain secretes dopamine and serotonin under the influence of alcohol which give the sense of well being and euphoria. During the alcohol withdrawal process the brain craves dopamine and serotonin for the feeling of well being it brings the user, this can happen only in the presence of alcohol. Since the addict is undergoing detoxification they are not consuming any alcohol thus the brain goes into depression which is one of the most major alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The severity of one’s alcohol withdrawal depends on the intensity of their addiction. Mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms include body aches, tremors, diarrhea, insomnia, and excessive sweating. This is seen in people who have had a mild addiction to alcohol for a short span of time. In such cases there is no need for medication and typically patient compliance during alcohol withdrawal is good.

Serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms are experienced by chronic alcoholics who have been under the influence of the substance for prolonged periods. These serious withdrawal symptoms have to be monitored since they can be life threatening, they also require medication. Life-threatening alcohol withdrawal symptoms include high fever, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, hallucinations, and delirium tremens. A person suffering from delirium tremens has uncontrolled shaking, panic attacks, and severe hallucinations. DT or delirium tremens begins within three to four days of the last drink and lasts up to a week. During this episode the patient must be monitored along with taking medication like sedatives to avoid life threatening consequences due to high blood pressure and increased heart rate.

The more heavily a person has been drinking every day, the more likely that person will develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms when they stop. The likelihood of developing severe withdrawal symptoms also increases if a person has other medical problems.

• Mild-to-moderate psychological alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
  • Jumpiness or nervousness
  • Shakiness
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability or easy excitability
  • Rapid emotional changes
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty thinking clearly
  • Bad dreams
• Mild-to-moderate physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
  • Headache -- general, pulsating
  • Sweating -- especially the palms of the hands or the face
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Insomnia (sleeping difficulty)
  • Pallor
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Eye pupils enlarged(dilated pupils)
  • Clammy skin
  • Tremor of the hands
  • Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
• Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
  • Delirium tremens -- a state of confusion and visual hallucinations
  • Agitation
  • Fever
  • Convulsions
  • Black outs -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode

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