If someone is a heavy, frequent drinker and they decide to suddenly refrain from drinking, odds are that they will experience some form of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The level of severity of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be determined by how physically dependent (AKA addicted) their body has become on alcohol. When the alcohol withdrawal symptoms are extreme enough, a person's craving for alcohol will more times than not start and most often overwhelm their wish to stop drinking leading the person back to drinking to alleviate the alcohol withdrawal symptoms rather than holding to their plan of “never again.”
The causes of alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the physical dependence created over years of heavy drinking. The hard drinker’s (or alcoholic’s) body has become so accustomed to the presence of alcohol that all of a sudden taking it away prompts the system to switch into a reactionary mode telling the heavy drinker (or alcoholic) that is has to have more alcohol to continue to exist (AKA cravings). It is somewhat analogous to taking away oxygen.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include the following:
• The Shakes-for less chemically dependent alcoholics alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include the shakes. These are quite often partnered by high blood pressure, a headache, nausea, anxiety, and a rapid heartbeat. Even though they are considered to be a mild type of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the shakes are normally uncomfortable and almost alway accompanied by cravings causing it to be tough for someone wishing to stop to remain alcohol free.
• The DT’s (delirium tremens)-within 6 hours to forty-eight hours after the individual's last drink, almost all heavily dependent drinkers (AKA alcoholics) will most likely experience hallucinations. Quite often the hallucinations that go along with alcohol withdrawal symptoms are visual, but these hallucinations can also include auditory hallucinations in addition to olfactory hallucinations (smells). When these alcohol withdrawals symptoms continue to go on then seventy-two hours to 5 days following their last drink, the alcoholic will undergo profound disorientation, non-stop hallucinations, hyperactivity, confusion, and extreme difficulties with their cardiovascular system. This can involve dangerously high blood pressure, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, even heart attacks or strokes. After the DT’s have started, there is no known medical procedure to get them to stop.
• Seizures-for the worst cases of alcohol withdrawal symptoms convulsions or seizures can take place within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcohol drink was consumed. If the alcohol withdrawal symptoms have gotten to this point, then some form of medical treatment in a hospital like environment is required or the alcoholic’s life will be at extreme risk.There exists an upside for those alcohol dependent people (alcoholics) who truly do wish to stop drinking. Most alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be eliminated or alleviated with professional healthcare in a certified alcohol treatment program. Usually for those hard, frequent drinkers that are mildly dependent then a proper diet and doses of vitamin B1 (thiamine) will get rid of most, if not all, of their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. For extremely dependent alcoholics, then detox medications can be given that will replace the body’s need for alcohol. After a few days, the detox medications will be slowly reduced and eliminated until the alcoholic is drug free.
The causes of alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the physical dependence created over years of heavy drinking. The hard drinker’s (or alcoholic’s) body has become so accustomed to the presence of alcohol that all of a sudden taking it away prompts the system to switch into a reactionary mode telling the heavy drinker (or alcoholic) that is has to have more alcohol to continue to exist (AKA cravings). It is somewhat analogous to taking away oxygen.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include the following:
• The Shakes-for less chemically dependent alcoholics alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include the shakes. These are quite often partnered by high blood pressure, a headache, nausea, anxiety, and a rapid heartbeat. Even though they are considered to be a mild type of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the shakes are normally uncomfortable and almost alway accompanied by cravings causing it to be tough for someone wishing to stop to remain alcohol free.
• The DT’s (delirium tremens)-within 6 hours to forty-eight hours after the individual's last drink, almost all heavily dependent drinkers (AKA alcoholics) will most likely experience hallucinations. Quite often the hallucinations that go along with alcohol withdrawal symptoms are visual, but these hallucinations can also include auditory hallucinations in addition to olfactory hallucinations (smells). When these alcohol withdrawals symptoms continue to go on then seventy-two hours to 5 days following their last drink, the alcoholic will undergo profound disorientation, non-stop hallucinations, hyperactivity, confusion, and extreme difficulties with their cardiovascular system. This can involve dangerously high blood pressure, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, even heart attacks or strokes. After the DT’s have started, there is no known medical procedure to get them to stop.
• Seizures-for the worst cases of alcohol withdrawal symptoms convulsions or seizures can take place within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcohol drink was consumed. If the alcohol withdrawal symptoms have gotten to this point, then some form of medical treatment in a hospital like environment is required or the alcoholic’s life will be at extreme risk.There exists an upside for those alcohol dependent people (alcoholics) who truly do wish to stop drinking. Most alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be eliminated or alleviated with professional healthcare in a certified alcohol treatment program. Usually for those hard, frequent drinkers that are mildly dependent then a proper diet and doses of vitamin B1 (thiamine) will get rid of most, if not all, of their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. For extremely dependent alcoholics, then detox medications can be given that will replace the body’s need for alcohol. After a few days, the detox medications will be slowly reduced and eliminated until the alcoholic is drug free.