Author: James Anderson

Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms, Treatment, Timeline & Recovery Insights

Minor alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically set in about 6 hours after your last drink and may last 4 to 48 hours. Symptoms of withdrawal are an indication of dependence on a substance. You should talk to your doctor before you reduce or stop taking a medication or drug for advice on how to do so safely and minimize potential withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may be able to help if you are having trouble managing your symptoms and provide medical supervision to ensure your safety as you detox from a substance. In some instances, more severe symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures, and delirium may also occur. A healthcare provider may request daily visits during which they will likely run blood tests and monitor vital signs until symptoms stabilize.

1. If you don’t already have a supportive network, you can make new connections by joining social media communities dedicated to alcohol-free living.
2. Eating nutritious food, exercising, and getting enough sleep can help reduce some withdrawal symptoms, such as mood swings.
3. Benzodiazepines like Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Ativan (lorazepam) may also help to prevent minor withdrawal symptoms from becoming more severe.
4. Meanwhile, the brain is producing more and more neurotransmitters, making a person further imbalanced.
5. Some people experience prolonged withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia and mood changes, that can last for weeks or months.

Try to remember that you don’t have to feel shame about your experience. AUD is very common, affecting an estimated 76.3 million people worldwide. By reading up on alcohol withdrawal and learning more about treatment and self-help options, you’ve taken an important step toward recovery. A high fever, hallucinations, and heart disturbances are all reasons to seek immediate help. Moderate or binge drinkers can likely quit alcohol on their own.

What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

However, medical complications can occur during the acute phase of withdrawal. However, try not to have too many firm expectations, as symptoms can continue for multiple weeks in some people. Delirium tremens is a medical emergency that can result in death. If you or someone you know shows signs of delirium tremens, go to the emergency room immediately. Treatment for withdrawal includes support, care, and medications that can ease symptoms and prevent possible complications.

Mild withdrawal symptoms often begin within 6 to 12 hours after your last drink. You’ve taken an important first step toward recovery by deciding to stop drinking. Now, try to keep in mind that even though withdrawal symptoms may be unpleasant, they’re temporary, and treatment is available during this time. This is why some people may be hesitant or afraid to quit drinking. Still, try to keep in mind that these symptoms — though uncomfortable — are temporary.

If you suddenly stop drinking or significantly reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it can cause AWS. For people at low risk of complications, an office visit to your primary care provider, along with at-home monitoring and virtual office visits, may suffice. People at high risk of complications should enter a short-term in-patient detox program. For people who experience hallucinations as part of alcohol withdrawal, these may begin in the 12- to 24-hour time frame. Other medications may also be used to manage specific withdrawal symptoms.

How is alcohol withdrawal treated?

Withdrawal can be different for everyone, so finding a treatment plan that will work for your loved one is crucial. Your loved one may need assistance during withdrawal, which may involve outpatient, residential, or inpatient options. The body and brain work to maintain a state of balance known as homeostasis. Taking a substance changes that balance, so your body has to take steps to adjust including changing the levels of certain neurotransmitters.

AWS is more common in adults, but children and teenagers who drink excessively may also experience the symptoms. You’re also at risk for AWS if you’ve previously had withdrawal symptoms or needed medical detox for a drinking problem. Millions of people join support groups to help stop drinking and stay stopped. Studies show support groups play an instrumental role in helping people develop healthy social networks that result in continued sobriety.

Stage 1: Mild Withdrawal

Your body works hard to keep your brain in a more awake state and to keep your nerves talking to one another. The prognosis (outlook) for someone with alcohol withdrawal depends greatly on its severity. It’s important to be honest about your alcohol use — and any other substance use — so your provider can give you the best care. It’s best to be in a calm and controlled environment to reduce the risk of symptoms progressing toward hallucinations.

If alcohol is interfering with your health or your personal, financial, or professional life, consider quitting. When someone drinks alcohol for a prolonged period of time and then stops, the body reacts to its absence. This is alcohol withdrawal, and it causes uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms.

Behavioral Treatment

If left untreated, withdrawal can progress to complicated alcohol withdrawal. These symptoms generally appear 12 to 24 hours after your last drink. While these symptoms are more severe than Stage 1, they are not life-threatening.