Best Alcohol Detox Centers

Mar 5

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur when a person suddenly stops drinking after prolonged and heavy alcohol abuse. Detox symptoms include trembling, insomnia, anxiety, and other physical and mental symptoms.

Alcohol has a sedating or depressant effect on the brain. In a long-term alcohol drinker, the brain is almost continually exposed to the depressant effect of alcohol. Eventually, the brain adjusts its own chemistry to compensate for the effect of the alcohol.

The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal occurs in about 1 out of every 20 people who have alcohol detox symptoms. This condition is called delirium tremens (also called DTs).

In delirium tremens, the brain is not able to smoothly readjust its chemistry after you stop drinking alcohol. This creates a state of confusion and leads to dangerous changes in the way your brain regulates your blood circulation and breathing. The body's vital signs such as your heart rate or blood pressure can change dramatically or unpredictably, possibly causing a heart attack, stroke or death.

If your brain has adjusted to your heavy drinking habits, it takes some time for your brain to adjust back. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur in a predictable pattern after your last alcohol drink. Not all alcohol detox symptoms develop in all patients:

Tremors (shakes) — These usually begin within 4 to 9 hours after the last alcohol drink and typically peak in a day or two. Along with tremors (trembling), you can develop a rapid pulse, high blood pressure, anxiety,rapid breathing, insomnia,sweating, nausea and vomiting, or a hyper-alert state, irritability, nightmares or vivid dreams.
Alcohol hallucinations — This symptom usually begins within 10 to 22 hours after your last drink, and may last as long as 3 days once it begins. If this happens, you hallucinate. It is common for people who are detoxing from alcohol to see multiple small, similar, moving objects. Sometimes the vision is perceived to be crawling insects or falling coins. It is possible for an alcohol withdrawal hallucination to be a very detailed and imaginative vision.
Alcohol withdrawal seizures — Seizures may occur 7 to 45 hours after the last drink, and it is common for several seizures to occur over several hours. The risk peaks at 24 hours.
Delirium tremens — Delirium tremens usually begins two to three days after the last alcohol drink, but it may be delayed more than a week. Its peak intensity is usually three to five days after the last drink. This condition causes dangerous changes in your breathing, your circulation and your temperature control. It can cause your heart to race dangerously or can cause your blood pressure to increase dramatically, and it can cause severe dehydration. Delirium tremens also can temporarily reduce the amount of blood flow to your brain. Symptoms can include confusion, disorientation, or loss of consciousness, soaking sweats, nervous or angry behavior, irrational beliefs, sleep disturbances and hallucinations.