Author: James Anderson

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

While receiving treatment, healthcare providers will want to monitor you continuously to make sure you don’t develop life-threatening complications. Healthcare providers typically prescribe short-term medications to relieve the symptoms of mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal. The mental health changes you experience when you stop drinking can include symptoms of withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, irritability, mood swings, and clearer thinking. While some of these changes can be uncomfortable for some time, they will eventually begin to improve the longer you abstain from alcohol use. Other risk factors include previous episodes of severe alcohol withdrawal.

But severe or complicated alcohol withdrawal can result in lengthy hospital stays and even time in the intensive care unit (ICU). Alcohol withdrawal causes a range of symptoms when a person with alcohol use disorder stops or significantly decreases their alcohol intake. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the most severe being life-threatening. 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.

Your Risk of Certain Diseases Will Decrease

Alcohol (ethanol) depresses (slows down) your central nervous system (CNS). If you consistently consume significant amounts of alcohol, your CNS gets used to this effect. Your CNS must work harder to overcome the depressant effects of alcohol to keep your body functioning. Each of these symptoms can increase in intensity depending on the severity of the withdrawal. This process temporarily restores homeostasis, or chemical balance, in an effort to counteract the impact of long-term alcohol use on the brain. One of the surprising side effects of giving up alcohol is that your skin may start to look better.

Medications for Alcohol Withdrawal

For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin sometime in the first eight hours after their final drink. After one week without alcohol, your risk of seizures is much less. Also, your risk of developing cardiovascular disease will start to decrease.

Support Groups

  1. While these symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are generally not life-threatening.
  2. This may be more pronounced if you often use alcohol as a way to manage existing sleep problems.
  3. While some people find success detoxing on their own, having professional help to manage symptoms will increase the chances of a safe and successful recovery.
  4. If you don’t already have a supportive network, you can make new connections by joining social media communities dedicated to alcohol-free living.
  5. After one week without alcohol, your risk of seizures is much less.

The challenge of this stage is to essentially develop and maintain healthy life skills that will serve you for a lifetime. An exciting part of this period is that it can lead you to a happier life full of welcomed change and constant improvement. Since withdrawal symptoms tend to ebb and flow, you may be tempted to feel like you’re not making progress ― even though in reality, you’ve come a long way. 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.

Another benefit of giving up alcohol is that your mind may be clearer. This is because alcohol can cause changes in brain chemistry, which can lead to cognitive problems. You might notice this effect more if you were drinking to manage your mood, such as drinking to temporarily relieve negative emotions or boost positive ones.

It’s recommended, however, that they have someone stay with them who can help during recovery. Alcohol withdrawal (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) is a range of symptoms that can happen if you stop or significantly reduce alcohol intake after long-term use. Seizures can occur within 6 to 48 hours, while hallucinations can occur within 12 to 48 hours after drinking is reduced or stopped, says Dr. Nolan.

Alcohol Withdrawal

It also may ease any depression and anxiety and elevate your self-esteem. A healthcare provider may request daily visits during which they will likely run blood tests and monitor vital signs until symptoms stabilize. 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. For mild alcohol withdrawal that’s not at risk of worsening, your provider may prescribe carbamazepine or gabapentin to help with symptoms.

While the abstinence stage of withdrawal causes mostly physical symptoms, post-acute withdrawal is very psychological and emotional. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), recovery is a process that involves remission from AUD and quitting heavy drinking for good. There are many resources available for anyone who is ready to stop drinking for good, or who wants to reduce the harm alcohol is causing in their life by cutting down. As you continue to commit to long-term recovery, support group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or online support communities might be helpful. A counselor can help someone prepare for life after withdrawal and provide support as they navigate quitting drinking. It’s typical for withdrawal symptoms to begin within hours to a day or two after you have your last drink.

Stage 1: Mild Withdrawal

If you have decided that it is time to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption, knowing what happens to your body when you stop drinking can give you a better idea of what to expect. As your body detoxes, nausea and vomiting are pretty common symptoms. You may also experience periods of dry heaving without vomiting. If severe vomiting is present, you may need to receive IV fluids so you don’t become dehydrated. Sometimes called alcoholic hallucinosis, these can show up within 12 to 24 hours after you quit.

Also known as DTs, an estimated 2% of people with alcohol use disorder and less than 1% of the general population experience them. The CDC defines it as more than 15 drinks per week for people assigned male at birth and more than 8 drinks per week for people assigned female at birth. With long-term heavy alcohol intake, your brain adapts to the effects of booze over time. If you drink heavily for weeks, months, or years, you may have unwanted physical and mental symptoms when you try to stop.

Tell your doctor if you see, hear, or feel things that aren’t there. But it’s important to know if something more serious is going on. Recovery from AUD is marked by stages of abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth. While the process may take several years, the outcome is a happier, healthier life where you have the freedom to fulfill your full potential. This stage typically starts 3–5 years after you’ve stopped drinking. People often need to address past trauma or familial issues during this time.