Seizing the use of alcohol can cause mild to severe effects of alcohol withdrawal and some of them are not only dangerous but also life-threatening. For this reason (and many others as well), professional alcohol detox programs in accredited facilities that can provide medical assistance are highly recommendable.
We Level Up California is such a center that can provide you or someone you love with supreme care, to-your-needs tailored recovery programs, and medicine-assisted detox programs that are sure to lessen alcohol withdrawal effects and make your detoxification process comfortable. We are here to support your rehab and ensure a lifelong recovery.
What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal
Prolonged and excessive alcohol use causes a variety of changes in brain activity. The physical effects of alcohol are complex. Still, two particular neurochemicals contribute to both the short-term effects of drinking as well as the development of alcohol withdrawal syndrome when someone stops drinking: the brain’s main inhibitory chemical, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the brain’s main excitatory chemical, glutamate.
When a person drinks alcohol, it changes the functioning of GABA receptors as well as certain glutamate receptors, resulting in a slowdown of brain functioning that a person typically experiences as decreased anxiety and sedation. The brain reacts by decreasing the amount of GABA being released and increasing glutamate signaling to compensate for how alcohol alters these levels. This adaptation functions as long as you continue to drink alcohol—this is known as ‘tolerance. Craving alcohol, having a tolerance to the effects of alcohol and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop drinking are some of the criteria that point toward having alcohol abuse disorder (AUD).
If you stop or significantly reduce alcohol intake, it disrupts your brain activity, causing a hyper-aroused state, which leads to a range of alcohol withdrawal effects that can appear within hours after your last drink. The exact neurochemical details of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are not easy to understand. However, the symptoms are a result of the body trying to make up for the imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters that happened because of long-term alcohol use.
The effects of alcohol withdrawal a person experiences, as well as their severity, may vary greatly from one person to the next, and it has been estimated that more than 80% of those with an alcohol use disorder may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Timeline of Alcohol Withdrawal
While a precise timeline of alcohol withdrawal will vary from person to person based on several factors (average quantity and duration of heavy drinking behavior, the concurrent presence of physical and mental health issues, etc.), a general alcohol withdrawal timeline may look like something like:
- 6 hours: Minor alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually begin about six hours after your last drink. A person who has a long history of heavy drinking could have a seizure six hours after stopping drinking.
- 12 to 24 hours: A small percentage of people going through alcohol withdrawal have hallucinations at this point. They may hear or see things that aren’t there. While this symptom can be scary, doctors don’t consider it a serious complication.
- 24 to 48 hours: Minor withdrawal symptoms usually continue during this time. These symptoms may include headaches, tremors, and stomach upsets. If a person goes through only minor withdrawal, their symptoms usually peak at 18 to 24 hours and start to decrease after four to five days.
- 48 hours to 72 hours: Some people experience a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that doctors call delirium tremens (DTs) or alcohol withdrawal delirium. A person with this condition can have a very high heart rate, seizures, or a high body temperature.
- 72 hours: This is the time when alcohol withdrawal symptoms are usually at their worst. In rare cases, moderate withdrawal symptoms can last for a month. These include rapid heart rate and illusions (seeing things that aren’t there).
Most people stop showing signs of alcohol withdrawal four to five days after their last drink. More rarely, some people experience more persistent withdrawal-related symptoms—such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, and mood changes—that last for months. It is important to note, however, that most people recover fully with proper medical detox and withdrawal management services.
The Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal
The effects of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are a set of symptoms that occur when someone who is physically dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking or drastically reduces their alcohol intake. As alcohol depresses the central nervous system, feelings of relaxation and euphoria arise. Because the body usually works to maintain balance, it will signal the brain to make more neurotransmitter receptors that excite or stimulate the central nervous system.
When you stop drinking, you take away alcohol not only from the receptors you originally had but also from the additional receptors your body made. As a result, your nervous system is overactive. This causes alcohol withdrawal effects such as:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Tremors
Additionally, symptoms and signs of alcohol withdrawal in the various stages of alcohol withdrawal may include:
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Mood changes
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Heart palpitations
- Increased blood pressure or heart rate
- Hyperthermia
- Rapid, abnormal breathing
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Some of these effects of alcohol withdrawal are severe and can pose additional danger.
Dangers of Alcohol Withdrawal
Moderate-to-severe signs of alcohol withdrawal can be extremely dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal, delirium tremens (DTs), occurs in 5% to 10% of alcohol-dependent individuals, with a mortality rate of 5% to 15% when left untreated.
Symptoms doctors associate with DTs include:
- Hallucinations
- High body temperature
- Illusions
- Paranoia
- Seizures
These are the most severe effects of alcohol withdrawal.
Factors Influencing Withdrawal Severity
Experiencing severe effects of alcohol withdrawal is somewhat rare; however, it can be difficult to predict those who will experience them and those who will only experience mild withdrawal symptoms. Despite this, studies have identified some predictors of severe alcohol withdrawal (e.g., withdrawal seizures or DTs). These include:
- Heavy daily alcohol use
- Being of older age
- History of DTs or alcohol withdrawal seizures
- Comorbid illnesses
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Brain lesions
- Abnormal liver function
If you have any of these risk factors, you must withdraw from alcohol at a medical facility that’s equipped to prevent and treat alcohol-related complications. Multiple factors can affect how long does alcohol withdrawal last. A doctor will consider all these factors when estimating the severity of alcohol withdrawal effects and the timeline of alcohol withdrawal.
Some rehabilitation facilities offer a rapid detox process. This involves giving a person sedative medication so they are not awake and aware of their symptoms. However, this approach is not well suited for those with other health problems, such as heart or liver problems.
Treatment Options for Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.
- Inpatient or residential treatment involves living at a facility for the duration of treatment while you receive around-the-clock support and intensive therapy in group and individual sessions.
- Outpatient treatment involves living at home and attending group and individual therapy sessions at regularly scheduled appointments. This allows you to practice what you learn in treatment in real-world situations while managing stressors.
Those experiencing moderate to severe effects of alcohol withdrawal, or those who are at risk of experiencing moderate to severe symptoms (i.e., if you’ve had severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the past), typically require inpatient monitoring and treatment of withdrawal symptoms at an acute care hospital or detox-equipped facility. Outpatient treatment may be available for mild-to-moderate symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. However, should symptoms become severe, inpatient care may be required.
You may not need any medications for alcohol withdrawal. You can still pursue therapy and support groups as you go through withdrawal. You may need medications if you have moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms. To prevent or lessen withdrawal symptoms or medical complications that can occur with severe alcohol withdrawal, doctors may prescribe benzodiazepines and other groups of medication. These drugs can stop certain withdrawal reactions from proceeding to serious consequences.
Examples of these include:
- Benzodiazepines. Doctors prescribe these medicines to reduce the likelihood of seizures during alcohol withdrawals. Examples include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan). Doctors often choose these drugs to treat alcohol withdrawals.
- Neuroleptic medications. These medications can help depress nervous system activity and may be helpful in preventing seizures and agitation associated with alcohol withdrawal.
- Nutritional support. Doctors may administer nutrients such as folic acid, thiamine, and magnesium to reduce withdrawal symptoms and correct nutrient deficiencies caused by alcohol use.
Doctors may prescribe other medications to treat withdrawal-related symptoms. One example is a beta-blocker (such as propranolol) to reduce high blood pressure. Once the immediate withdrawal symptoms have passed, a doctor may prescribe medicines to reduce the likelihood that a person will start drinking again. Examples include:
- Disulfiram (Antabuse). This medication can reduce alcohol cravings and make a person feel very ill if they drink while taking it.
- Naltrexone (ReVia). Naltrexone can reduce alcohol cravings and help a person maintain their abstinence from alcohol by blocking opioid (feel-good) receptors in their body.
- Topiramate (Topamax). This medicine may help reduce alcohol consumption and extend the period of abstinence from alcohol abuse.
A doctor may discuss these and other medicines with you. You can choose to use these along with therapy and support groups to help you maintain your sobriety.
Managing Withdrawal Symptoms
You may be wondering how to tell if you need help with your drinking. Generally, you may need alcohol addiction treatment when you can no longer control the amount you drink or how long you drink. You may also know that you need help with alcohol misuse when you begin experiencing consequences directly related to your alcohol misuse, such as alcohol poisoning, but you still can’t stop or cut back on the amount that you’re drinking.
In general, the course and alcohol withdrawal timeline are highly variable and somewhat unpredictable. Screening and assessment tools do not allow physicians to predict with confidence who will or will not experience life-threatening symptoms. Those who are concerned about experiencing the effects of alcohol withdrawal will benefit from the advice of a physician or clinician trained to assess and treat patients with alcohol withdrawal.
To assess a person’s withdrawal symptoms and recommend treatments, doctors often use a scale called the Clinical Institute for Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol. The higher the number, the worse a person’s symptoms are and the more treatments they likely need.
In these situations, when the effects of alcohol withdrawal are expected to be severe, medical supervision of the treatment is essential. Experienced professionals at We Level Up California are licensed to prescribe medicines and trained to swiftly react in unpredictable medical emergencies. We provide 24/7 medical care and monitoring, and tailor detox and other programs based on your needs, including medical needs for comorbid conditions. Your safety comes first.
Coping and Prevention Strategies
While alcohol detox helps you navigate the difficult process of alcohol withdrawal, it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to alcohol use. Additional post-detox treatments and therapeutic approaches can address this, answer questions such as is drug addiction a disease, and empower you to live your life to the fullest.
Post-detox resources may include:
- Therapies such as family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- 12-step meetings, such as AA.
- Participation with other mutual support groups.
- AAC’s free online virtual support meetings.
Staying sober is a lifelong task and it requires both acute professional addressing of the dangers of alcohol withdrawal and the development of long-term coping mechanisms.
We Can Help You Battle Alcohol Withdrawal Effects
Alcoholism is a serious disorder that can cause severe repercussions, such as the effects of alcohol withdrawal, and should not be taken lightly. We Level Up California can provide you, or someone you love, with the tools to treat alcoholism professionally and safely.
Call us to speak with one of our counselors. Our specialists know what you are going through. Keep in mind that each call is private and confidential.
Sources:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/withdrawal-detox
Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/london-new-york-tokyo-and-moscow-clocks-48770
https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-distorted-photo-of-a-woman-6491257
https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-persons-holding-drinking-glasses-filled-with-beer-1089930
