Alcohol withdrawal syndrome refers to a wide range of symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol stops suddenly or significantly reduces their alcohol consumption.
CAUSES Excessive alcohol drinking disrupts the brain's neurotransmitters - the brain chemicals that transmits energy.
Alcohol enhances the effect of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
GABA is the neurotransmitter that produces a feeling of relaxation and calm.
However excessive alcohol intake eventually suppresses the activity of GABA and therefore more and more alcohol is needed to produce the desired effect.
This phenomenon is called tolerance.
Glutamate is the neurotransmitter that produces the feeling of excitability.
Chronic alcohol consumption inhibits the activity of this neurotransmitter.
Glutamate therefore functions at a level higher than it does in moderate alcoholics and non alcoholics to maintain equilibrium.
When heavy drinkers significantly reduce their alcohol intake or stop suddenly, the neurotransmitters that are previously suppressed by alcohol are no longer suppressed.
They therefore rebound resulting in brain hyperexcitability.
The effects of alcohol withdrawal such as anxiety, tremors or seizures are opposite to those of alcohol consumption.
SYMPTOMS Minor symptoms occur within 6 hours of alcohol cessation and may develop while you have a significant amount of blood alcohol level.
These symptoms include
It involves visual, auditory or tactile hallucinations and usually ends within 48 hours.
Withdrawal seizures usually occur within 12 to 48 hours after the last drink.
This risk is high in patients who have undergone multiple detoxifications.
Delirium Tremens (DT) usually occurs 48 and 72 hours after alcohol cessation although it can occur as early as 2 hours after your last drink.
Risk factors of DT are
If your condition is mild and you have a reliable family support system, your doctor will recommend an outpatient treatment.
You will however need an impatient treatment if your case is severe, you are pregnant, don't have a reliable support system or have a history of the following conditions
Patients with mild symptoms are given the anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine (Tegretol) instead of benzodiazepines due to it's low potential for abuse.
CAUSES Excessive alcohol drinking disrupts the brain's neurotransmitters - the brain chemicals that transmits energy.
Alcohol enhances the effect of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
GABA is the neurotransmitter that produces a feeling of relaxation and calm.
However excessive alcohol intake eventually suppresses the activity of GABA and therefore more and more alcohol is needed to produce the desired effect.
This phenomenon is called tolerance.
Glutamate is the neurotransmitter that produces the feeling of excitability.
Chronic alcohol consumption inhibits the activity of this neurotransmitter.
Glutamate therefore functions at a level higher than it does in moderate alcoholics and non alcoholics to maintain equilibrium.
When heavy drinkers significantly reduce their alcohol intake or stop suddenly, the neurotransmitters that are previously suppressed by alcohol are no longer suppressed.
They therefore rebound resulting in brain hyperexcitability.
The effects of alcohol withdrawal such as anxiety, tremors or seizures are opposite to those of alcohol consumption.
SYMPTOMS Minor symptoms occur within 6 hours of alcohol cessation and may develop while you have a significant amount of blood alcohol level.
These symptoms include
- headache
- insomnia
- mild anxiety
- sweating
- nausea and vomiting
- shaking hands
It involves visual, auditory or tactile hallucinations and usually ends within 48 hours.
Withdrawal seizures usually occur within 12 to 48 hours after the last drink.
This risk is high in patients who have undergone multiple detoxifications.
Delirium Tremens (DT) usually occurs 48 and 72 hours after alcohol cessation although it can occur as early as 2 hours after your last drink.
Risk factors of DT are
- history of DT
- history of withdrawal seizures
- the presence of a concurrent illness
- 30 years of age and older
- high blood pressure
- severe tremors
- hallucinations
- profuse sweating
- severe and anxiety and confusion
- low-grade fever
- racing or irregular heart beat
If your condition is mild and you have a reliable family support system, your doctor will recommend an outpatient treatment.
You will however need an impatient treatment if your case is severe, you are pregnant, don't have a reliable support system or have a history of the following conditions
- multiple detoxifications
- Withdrawal seizures or DTs
- certain medical conditions or psychiatric illness
Patients with mild symptoms are given the anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine (Tegretol) instead of benzodiazepines due to it's low potential for abuse.