subject: When To Get Help For Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms [print this page] The level of severity of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms will depend on how physically dependent (AKA addicted) their system has become on alcohol. If the alcohol withdrawal symptoms are severe enough, the craving for alcohol will more times than not kick in and often overwhelm their wish to quit drinking leading that person back to drinking to alleviate the alcohol withdrawal symptoms rather than remaining on their plan of never again.
The root cause of alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the physical dependence developed over many years of heavy drinking. The hard drinkers (or alcoholics) system has become so used to the presence of alcohol that immediately removing it prompts the system to jump into a reactionary mode letting the heavy drinker (or alcoholic) that is requires more alcohol to go on living (AKA cravings). Its very much analogous to removing oxygen.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
The Shakes-for less chemically dependent drinkers alcohol withdrawal symptoms normally include the shakes. These are normally partnered by a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, high blood pressure, and a headache. While they are considered to be a mild form of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the shakes are uncomfortable and almost alway accompanied by cravings causing it to be complicated for someone attempting to stop to stay off the booze.
The DTs (delirium tremens)-within 6 hours to four days after the individual's last drink, most heavily dependent drinkers (AKA alcoholics) can experience hallucinations. Quite often the hallucinations that go along with alcohol withdrawal symptoms are visual, but they can also include hearing related hallucinations in addition to olfactory hallucinations (smells). If these alcohol withdrawals symptoms continue to go on then seventy-two hours to 5 days after the individual's last drink, the alcoholic can experience extreme non-stop hallucinations, disorientation, confusion, hyperactivity, and extreme difficulties with their breathing and heartbeat. These can involve rapid heartbeat, dangerously high blood pressure, heart palpitations, even strokes or heart attacks. After the DTs start, there exists no known medical treatment to get them to stop.
Seizures-for extreme cases of alcohol withdrawal symptoms convulsions or seizures can take place within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink was consumed. If the alcohol withdrawal symptoms have gotten to this point, then some type of medical treatment in a hospital like environment is required or the alcoholics life can be at high risk.
There exists an good ending for those alcohol dependent people (alcoholics) who really do wish to quit drinking. Most alcohol withdrawal symptoms are eliminated or alleviated with professional medical care in a qualified alcohol treatment program. Usually for those frequent, heavy drinkers that are mildly dependent then a proper diet and doses of Thiamine (vitamin B1) will alleviate most, if not all, of their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. For extremely dependent alcoholics, then detox medications can be given that will replace the system's need for alcohol. After a few days, the detox medications will be slowly reduced and eliminated until the alcoholic is free of drugs.
