Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
What Is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS)? Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) refers to a group of symptoms that occur after the reduction or complete cessation of alcohol intake after a period of prolonged, consistent use. These signs of alcohol withdrawal usually appear six hours after the last drink, peak between 24 and 72 hours, and subside within seven days. Despite this relatively “short” alcohol withdrawal timeline, however, you should know that some of these signs of alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous, and they pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of individuals; particularly those dealing with alcohol withdrawal after a significantly prolonged period of use. Statistics on AWS Alcohol is one of the most common substances of abuse used in societies all over the world. According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2019, over 14.5 million people, ages 12 and above, were reported to have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States alone. This statistic points out just how much of an “epidemic” alcohol abuse is. Perhaps more “disturbing” is that many people seem unaware that alcohol use, like opiate use, is accompanied by severe withdrawal effects upon any attempt to stop drinking or withdraw from alcohol. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome vs. Hangover People often mistake alcohol withdrawal syndrome for a hangover. However, beyond the major similarity of both being linked with alcohol use, they are very different as they have different causes. These differences will be detailed below. Alcohol Hangover Alcohol hangover occurs when an individual consumes an excessive amount of alcohol at once (or in the space of a brief period). This results in a high level of alcohol content in the body, causing irritation of the stomach lining, inflammatory responses, and dehydration. Once the effects of the alcohol use wear off, these symptoms become more pronounced, resulting in noticeable hangover signs like headache, fatigue, and nausea (usually accompanied by vomiting. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (or drinking withdrawal), on the other hand, occurs when there is acute alcohol withdrawal from people who have been consuming high levels of alcohol for some time. Over time, the body will have become accustomed to having a certain alcohol content, and this presence of alcohol alters brain function and neurotransmitter production. When there is acute alcohol withdrawal, the body struggles to adapt and function properly, leading to symptoms ranging from mild ones like alcohol withdrawal fever or dizziness caused by alcohol withdrawal to much more severe symptoms like alcohol withdrawal seizure. How Is Alcohol Withdrawal Diagnosed? The process of withdrawing from alcohol starts with a medical diagnosis by a doctor. Your doctor will review your medical history, enquire about what symptoms you’re experiencing, and then perform a physical examination. During the diagnosis process, your doctor will be looking for signs that accompany withdrawing from alcohol, such as irregular heartbeats, hand tremors, fever, and dehydration. Doctors will ask a series of questions such as “what day is this?” Or “who am I” that helps determine the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor will also perform a toxicology screen to determine the amount of alcohol you still have in your body. This knowledge will help your doctor develop a treatment regimen that will ensure you can withdraw from alcohol safely. Can Alcohol Withdrawal Be Fatal? Alcohol Withdrawal occurs in stages, and each of these stages is accompanied by withdrawal symptoms of varying severities. Early alcohol withdrawal stages may accompany relatively mild symptoms such as headaches, fever, increased sweating, etc. Layer alcohol withdrawal stages are accompanied by much more severe withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures (status epilepticus), and delirium tremens, all of which can be fatal if alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatments are absent or not quickly initiated. Some Factors Affecting the Severity of Alcohol Withdrawal Alcohol withdrawal usually varies across the board as several factors can contribute to the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. Some of these factors include: Alcohol dependence How long the person has been abusing alcohol: The side effects of alcohol withdrawal observed in the alcohol withdrawal timeline of “chronic” alcohol users tend to be more severe. The quantity of alcohol they consume How frequently they drink Their age Their history with addiction to other substances Family addiction history Pre-existing mental and physical health conditions What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome? Proper management of alcohol detox requires the ability and knowledge of how to identify withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. These common alcohol withdrawal symptoms serve as early signs of alcohol withdrawal and being able to identify them could help you seek appropriate help for yourself or your loved ones. Common Indications of Alcohol Withdrawal Common withdrawal symptoms from alcohol include the following: Alcohol Withdrawal Nausea Alcohol Withdrawal Fever Vomiting Fast heasrt rate Agitation Alcohol Withdrawal Headache Insomnia Sweating Nightmares Alcohol Withdrawal Anxiety Chills from alcohol withdrawal Severe Alcohol Recovery Symptoms In addition to these mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you should know that there are also alcohol recovery symptoms that are much more severe. These symptoms could include insomnia, confusion, high blood pressure, and Delirium Tremens, one of the most severe physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.4 It is vital that if you or a loved one experiences alcohol recovery symptoms, you seek medical intervention immediately. What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome? Alcohol is a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant which means it “depresses” the activities of the CNS by slowing down brain function and changing the way and speed by which nerves send and receive impulses or “messages.” Over time the body’s central nervous system adapts to the effects of having alcohol around and develops alternative “measures” of nerve communication (rewiring of the brain). A sudden decrease of alcohol levels in the body results in a “disorganization” of brain functions as the brain has already grown accustomed to the presence of and functioning with alcohol in the body, which leads to an alcohol withdrawal syndrome and the manifestation of the side effects of alcohol withdrawal.5 Who Is At Risk For Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome? From the
Alcohol Withdrawal – Signs, Symptoms and Treatments
What is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)? Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is increasingly common globally. Alcohol withdrawal can be very tricky and challenging to navigate without proper medical intervention, considering the severity of possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Nevertheless, successful management of alcohol detox symptoms and overall alcohol withdrawal treatment is possible. It is important to consider treatment of not only withdrawal, but of treating the root of the problem: Alcohol Use Disorder. Addiction Misuse There are several different substances of addiction, including popular substances of abuse like opioids, marijuana, and alcohol. As seen and experienced with other substances of abuse, alcohol addiction does not happen spontaneously; instead, it happens with repeated and consistent intake of alcohol. Alcohol Intake Consequences and Risks This constant alcohol intake could have harmful health, social and psychological effects on people addicted to repeated alcohol intake. However, there is also the danger of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and effects linked with any attempt to halt alcohol intake. First Look at Alcohol Dependence and Withdrawal Excessive drinking includes heavy drinking, binge drinking, drinking by people who are under the age of 21 or drinking by pregnant women. The CDC defines binge drinking as four or more drinks per single occasion for women and five or more drinks per single occasion for men. What Is Alcohol Withdrawal? Alcohol withdrawal, also known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), refers to the combination of symptoms that accompanies a partial or total decrease in alcohol intake levels. Simply put, alcohol withdrawal relates to the symptoms or side effects of quitting drinking. These alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually vary in severity ranging from mild to much more severe effects. These withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can be so severe that they are life-threatening. Timeline of Alcohol Withdrawal As earlier mentioned, the alcohol withdrawal symptoms that a person who drinks alcohol will experience upon partial or total withdrawal from alcohol vary in severity; that is, you can experience both mild and severe symptoms. However, you should note that the severity of withdrawal symptoms from alcohol experienced varies with the time you took your last drink and how long you have been drinking. There is a withdrawal from alcohol symptom “timeline” (alcohol withdrawal timeline). Six Hours After Last Drink According to the alcohol withdrawal timeline, you may begin to experience some mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as shaking hands, nausea, headache, anxiety, increased sweating, and even insomnia. All these are early signs of alcohol withdrawal. 12-48 Hours Post-Drinking At this point, you may begin to experience more severe signs of alcohol withdrawal such as auditory and visual hallucinations and seizures. Seizures usually begin within 24-48 hours after you withdraw from alcohol intake. After 72 Hours As the duration of alcohol withdrawal increases, the symptoms also increase in severity. After 72 hours, you may begin to experience delirium tremens. This alcohol withdrawal symptom can be so severe that withdrawal patients must be admitted into an intensive care unit. The symptoms of delirium can include dehydration, elevated blood pressure levels, insomnia, hallucinations, and even a decrease in brain blood flow. Although not everyone who undergoes alcohol withdrawal experiences delirium, it has been known to lead to the death of up to 5% of individuals that develop it. For the most part, alcohol detox withdrawal symptoms tend to improve after a short while, so most patients will experience relief after the duration of the above-listed alcohol withdrawal stages (alcohol detox symptoms should improve after five days). However, in a few cases, people who withdraw from alcohol may continue to experience signs of alcohol withdrawal well after a week. What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome? Alcohol, when it is initially consumed, has an irritating effect on the nervous system; however, it also has a stimulatory effect. Upon repeated excessive alcohol consumption, this excitatory effect becomes very significant. The brain rewires itself and becomes increasingly dependent on alcohol intake to the point where the entire central nervous system will not be able to function correctly without it again. A sudden or acute alcohol withdrawal at this point of high alcohol dependency usually results in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). This is because, at this point, the body has become used to and cannot function properly without alcohol, so sudden alcohol withdrawal, in essence, “grounds” boy function since the nervous system is unable to work as it should again. Who is at Risk for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome? Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) is a severe condition that affects people who have an alcohol dependency or who drink extensively daily and cannot progressively reduce their consumption. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurs more frequently in adults, although it can also affect children and teens who often drink heavily. If you’ve ever experienced mild withdrawal symptoms like dizziness caused by alcohol withdrawal, chills from alcohol withdrawal, or needed medical detox for alcohol abuse problems, you are more likely to develop Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal If you withdraw from alcohol use, you will exhibit several signs and symptoms. Some of these signs are mild, while others are much more severe. Some typical (mild) signs of acute alcohol withdrawal include the following: Anxiety Mood changes Headaches Fatigue Hallucinations Tremors or shakes Seizures Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms As earlier mentioned, acute alcohol withdrawal can lead to very severe withdrawal symptoms. Some of these painful withdrawal symptoms that can accompany a sudden stop of alcohol consumption include: Extreme confusion Extreme agitation Fever High blood pressure When is Drinking Excessive? Just in case you’re unsure what “heavy drinking” means, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines excessive drinking as a blanket term that includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and drinking done by pregnant women and by people under the legal age limit. Binge Drinking Of all the above-listed examples of excessive drinking, the most prevalent kind of excessive drinking is binge drinking, which is described as consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period. It may include: Four or more drinks at a single event for ladies. (Heavy