Heavy long-term alcohol use can lead to psychical dependency. This causes you to suffer from withdrawal symptoms if you immediately stop drinking. When physical dependency occurs, your body begins to need alcohol in order to function. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even fatal. You can experience tremors, shaking, sweating and even hallucinations. Alcoholism can teach the body to rely on it and can influence, change and impair brain chemistry. Feelings of sadness and depression, as well as anxiety, can be common alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Properly detoxing can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms can also worsen co-occurring physical and mental conditions.
Most Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms can begin as quickly as two hours after your last drink and can last for several weeks. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms peak about 48 hours after your last drink.
Some of the most commonly occurring alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Sweating
- Delirium Tremors, which can be life-threatening
- Severe mood swings, irritability, and depression
- Rapid heart rate
- Dehydration
- Shakes and tremors
The most severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms are related to delirium tremors, which can spark hallucinations and seizures. Delirium tremors can also cause extreme confusion, irregular heart beat and uncontrollable shakes. Delirium tremors can last for up to three days and are most likely to occur between two and three days after last consuming alcohol. Alcohol is considered the most dangerous substance to withdrawal because of the potentially life-threatening complications it poses.
Although uncommon, people have died from delirium tremors after experiencing severe fevers and seizures. Depression is another common side effect of alcohol withdrawal, which can pose an increased risk of suicide until brain chemistry is rebalanced.
Medically Assisted Alcohol Detox
The severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms requires medically supervised detox. The risks that come with delirium tremors, which can be fatal, we can easily monitor and prevent with proper medications. Benzodiazepines are successful in combatting these withdrawal symptoms and preventing delirium tremors. Since alcohol withdrawal can impact things like blood pressure, medical supervision helps ensure you are safe during detox.
Ensuring that you remain properly hydrated is important, because alcohol withdrawal includes nausea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. Since withdrawal symptoms may cause fevers, medically assisted alcohol detox programs regularly monitor your vital signs in order to prevent significant physical problems.
Medications can also decrease discomfort during withdrawal. An alcohol detox center in Jacksonville FL can provide a safe environment while you withdrawal and connect you to additional treatment resources.
Finding Treatment for Alcohol Abuse
When experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it is important to find a professional and experienced treatment center. Call us today at 866.723.3127 to learn more about how we can help you receive the best care for alcohol detoxification.
