If someone is a hard, frequent drinker and they want to all of a sudden quit drinking, it is more than likely that they will undergo some type of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The degree of severity of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be dependent upon how physically dependent (AKA addicted) their system has become on alcohol. When the alcohol withdrawal symptoms are severe enough, their craving for alcohol will usually kick in and often overwhelm their desire to quit drinking leading the person to return to drinking to alleviate the alcohol withdrawal symptoms instead of sticking to their plan of “never again.”
The root cause of alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the physical dependence developed over many years of hard drinking. The heavy drinker’s (or alcoholic’s) body has become so accustomed to the presence of alcohol that suddenly taking it away prompts the body to switch into a reactionary mode letting the hard drinker (or alcoholic) that is has to have more alcohol to continue to exist (AKA cravings). It’s somewhat analogous to restricting the flow of oxygen.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
• The Shakes-for less chemically dependent alcoholics alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually include the shakes. These are quite often partnered by high blood pressure, a headache, nausea, anxiety, and a rapid heartbeat. While they are considered to be a mild type of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the shakes are uncomfortable and usually accompanied by cravings causing it to be difficult for someone trying to quit to continue their sobriety.
• The DT’s (delirium tremens)-within 6 hours to 48 hours after the person’s last drink, many heavily dependent drinkers (AKA alcoholics) will most likely experience hallucinations. Normally the hallucinations associated with alcohol withdrawal symptoms are visual in some form, but the hallucinations can be hearing related hallucinations as well as olfactory hallucinations (smells). When these alcohol withdrawals symptoms continue to progress then three days to 5 days following the individual’s last drink, the alcoholic will undergo extreme confusion, disorientation, non-stop hallucinations, hyperactivity, and extreme problems with their lungs and heart. These can involve heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, dangerously high blood pressure, even strokes or heart attacks. After the DT’s begin, there is no known medical treatment to make them stop.
• Seizures-for extreme situations of alcohol withdrawal symptoms convulsions or seizures can occur within 6 to forty-eight hours after the last alcohol drink was consumed. If the alcohol withdrawal symptoms have reached this point, then some form of medical treatment in a hospital like setting is required or the alcoholic’s life can be at extreme risk.
There exists an good ending for those alcohol dependent people (alcoholics) who truly do wish to quit drinking. Most alcohol withdrawal symptoms are eliminated or alleviated with proper medical care in a certified alcohol treatment program. Usually for those hard, frequent drinkers that are mildly dependent then a proper diet and doses of Thiamine (vitamin B1) will get rid of most, if not all, of their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. For highly dependent alcoholics, then detox medications can be given that will replace the body’s need for alcohol. Following a few days, the detox medicines will be slowly reduced and eliminated until the alcoholic is drug free.
Opiates Detox 