Author: James Anderson

Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal: Timeline, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can occur as early as a few hours after a person’s last drink. For some, these symptoms may peak within the first 24–48 hours after alcohol cessation, but they may continue after this point in others. And while symptoms generally improve within 5 days, some may experience prolonged symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal refers to a condition that may occur when an individual with alcohol use disorder suddenly stops or significantly reduces their alcohol consumption. A person may notice initial symptoms after a few hours that could last for up to a week or longer.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Nevertheless, even these risk factors won’t necessarily lead to the high-risk individual developing a substance use disorder like addiction. Other contributing factors often factor in, including the subsequent stages of addiction. The multiple stages of addiction can occur over a short period of time, or they can take months or even years to develop.

Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal

1. These may include anti-anxiety medications, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, or other drugs designed to treat nausea or sleep problems.
2. These may still be mild, or the existing symptoms might increase in severity.
3. Symptoms that have associations with this condition can be mild, severe, or in some cases, life threatening.
4. Stress management activities such as yoga and meditation may also help you cope with your withdrawal experience.
5. Some of these illicit substances can also result in tolerance within one or two uses.

Generally, you may need treatment for alcohol misuse when you can no longer control the amount you drink or how long you drink. To learn more about when you may need help for alcohol misuse, visit our informational page on helping someone with an alcohol use disorder or take our alcohol misuse self-assessment. But abruptly quitting substances such as benzodiazepines or alcohol can be potentially dangerous, so always consult your doctor to come up with a detox plan.

After Withdrawal: Your Addiction Recovery Journey

Stage two starts after 24 hours have passed from the last time you took a drink of alcohol. Below are examples of mild, moderate, and severe symptoms during stage two of withdrawal. People with alcohol use disorder should be monitored by a medical professional when withdrawing from alcohol. Moderate to heavy drinkers can also benefit from medical supervision in the acute withdrawal stage. For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin sometime in the first eight hours after their final drink. A rare but very serious syndrome called delirium tremens can occur during alcohol withdrawal.

Taking a substance changes that balance, so your body has to take steps to adjust including changing the levels of certain neurotransmitters. These substances act on your brain’s reward system, triggering the release of chemicals. If you believe you or someone you love may be struggling with addiction, let us hear your story and help you determine a path to treatment. Research also notes that an intravenous administration of benzodiazepines can help decrease the risk of delirium tremens.

The Stages of Addiction

Hallucinations and seizures during acute withdrawal represent emergencies and medical attention should be sought immediately. The severity and presence of withdrawal depend on several factors, including the duration and amount of alcohol consumption, individual health conditions, and previous history of withdrawal. While most cases are mild,  if you experience severe or acute withdrawal, seek immediate medical attention, as symptoms can be life-threatening if left alone.

What Are the Stages of Withdrawal?

These programs involve working with a team of mental health professionals in a group and individual setting. There is no exact timeline for alcohol withdrawal, and individual factors, such as the level of dependence on alcohol, will influence it. When someone drinks alcohol for a prolonged period of time and then stops, the body reacts to its absence.

Also known as DTs, an estimated 2% of people with alcohol use disorder and less than 1% of the general population experience them. Alcohol withdrawal is a potentially serious complication of alcohol use disorder. It’s important to get medical help even if you have mild symptoms of withdrawal, as it’s difficult to predict in the beginning how much worse the symptoms could get. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur when someone who is physically dependent upon alcohol suddenly stops drinking or drastically reduces their alcohol intake. If you abruptly stop or decrease your intake of the substance, your body is once again thrown off balance and symptoms of withdrawal may result.

Although many people are tempted to make other major life changes during this stage of recovery, such as changing jobs, experts recommend focusing energy on stopping drinking for at least the first year. If you think you may have a drinking problem, you’re definitely not alone. In 2021, researchers estimated nearly 30 million people ages 12 years and older in the United States had alcohol use disorder (AUD). Recovery from alcohol addiction generally follows the stages of abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth.

During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Ethanol is the key ingredient in many alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and spirits. As a depressant, alcohol can suppress the central nervous system (CNS), making the body reliant on it with prolonged exposure. It does this by reducing the excitatory portion of the CNS called the glutamate receptors while increasing the inhibitory portion called the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors.

Research shows people who have a supportive social network are more likely to remain alcohol-free after withdrawal. Those with a wider circle of support have a better chance of staying sober. If you or someone you know shows signs of delirium tremens, go to the emergency room immediately. This process temporarily restores homeostasis, or chemical balance, in an effort to counteract the impact of long-term alcohol use on the brain.