What are the Causes, Risks and Factors of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur when someone who drinks alcohol excessively suddenly stops drinking. The heavier the drinking habit, the more likely the drinker is to experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include nervousness, anxiety, difficulty thinking clearly and insomnia. More serious withdrawal symptoms include loss of appetite, tremors, rapid heart rate and sweating.

Causes of Withdrawal Symptoms

• Alcohol withdrawal syndrome rarely occurs in people who drink only occasionally. Withdrawal symptoms usually appear when someone who has been abusing alcohol for months or years suddenly stops. Alcohol affects neurotransmitters in the brain when a person drinks. Short-term use results in feelings of euphoria and reduced inhibitions. Abruptly stopping habitual use of alcohol has a rebound effect on these neurotransmitters, resulting in irritability and nervousness, and it can lead to seizures, shaking, sweating and other unpleasant physical symptoms.

Risks

• Alcohol is physically addicting, and a person who has habitually consumed large quantities of it for a while can't stop suddenly without risking severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. There could be dramatic increases in blood pressure, pulse and body temperature. Tremors can be so severe that the alcoholic has difficulty performing basic tasks of self-care. Withdrawal after long-term alcohol abuse can include serious problems that include liver failure, abnormal heart rhythms and internal bleeding.

Delirium Tremens

• Delirium tremens, or DTs, is the worst form of withdrawal from alcohol. It is characterized by severe tremors, seizures, confusion and hallucinations. Delirium tremens is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. Symptoms of DTs start two to four days after alcohol use is stopped. According to Cordingley Neurology, delirium tremens is fatal to as many as 20 percent of people who go untreated for it, and even with treatment the death rate is 1 percent to 5 percent.

Factors Affecting Alcohol Withdrawal

• A person who is physically dependent on the chemical alcohol might continue to drink in an attempt to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. Many people don't realize they are addicted until they begin having withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawing in an inpatient environment is often recommended for people who have been dependent on alcohol for a long time, because symptoms of withdrawal can quickly intensify and become life-threatening. Treatment for withdrawal an cinclude medications that depress the central nervous system, such as benzodiazepines. Patients usually need additional treatment through support groups, medication or behavior therapy.