What are Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawals?
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are more than just uncomfortable. They can keep you from being able to sleep or even get comfortable in any position or at any temperature. But did you know the symptoms of alcohol withdrawals are also dangerous? You know that there are serious risks that come along with drinking or using drugs. You may even know that those risks can be deadly. But alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates are unique among drugs of abuse in that they all carry a risk of fatal withdrawal symptoms. This is why it is very important never to try and detox yourself. Always get professional medical help. Here is a breakdown of the early onset symptoms when you first stop drinking.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawals (After 6 Hours)
These are all symptoms you could experience beginning 6 hours after your last drink. Again, a lot depends on how much you drink, how often and your personal health factors. But all of these signs below are commonly seen in people in early alcohol withdrawal.
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Shaking
Will I Experience Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
This may sound a bit cliché, but it’s true. Everyone’s body is different. Your physiology varies from the person on the barstool next to you. This means different people have different thresholds for withdrawal symptoms. Just like some people need less alcohol to get drunk, some people have more severe withdrawal symptoms than others. Some people are more prone to have a seizure in withdrawal and those seizure can sometimes be deadly. What does not differ from person to person is that if you drink daily, or close to it, and you stop abruptly, you will have some withdrawal symptoms. How serious your symptoms are will depend on several factors. These include:
- How much alcohol you drink.
- Whether or not you drink daily.
- The length of time you have been drinking (i.e. months, years).
- Physiological factors (age, sex, weight)
- Medications or drugs you may also be taking.
- Medical history, susceptibility to seizures etc.
The number of variables and the fact that symptoms of alcohol withdrawals can be dangerous or even fatal mean you should never try to detox yourself. Always get professional medical guidance and support before abruptly quitting alcohol if you drink regularly. It could save your life.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawals (12-72 Hours)
Within 12-48 hours of your last drink, the first set of symptoms may become more pronounced. In addition to those symptoms of alcohol withdrawals, you may also begin to experience some or all these more serious effects listed below:
- Seeing things that aren’t there (visual hallucinations)
- Hearing things that aren’t there (auditory hallucinations)
- Seizures
Within 48-72 hours (2-3 days) of your last drink, the other symptoms we already listed may become even worse. You may also begin to experience some or all these additional effects:
- Fever
- Racing heartbeat
- Heavy sweating
- Confusion/disorientation
- High blood pressure
Why Do I Need to Know All This?
It’s simple. We’re sharing all this information because we know there is no reason for someone to suffer through this experience. There is also definitely no reason for someone to die as a result. Some people with alcohol use disorders are stubborn though. They may resist getting help or treatment. The dangers we outlined in this article should be motivation enough all by themselves to get medical support. We hope they are. Remember not to hesitate if you or someone you are with is ever showing any of the signs or symptoms we list here. Seizures can sometimes occur unexpectedly and without warning. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Go to a treatment center, detox or hospital for help. Call 911 and get an ambulance on the way. It is better to regret overreacting than not doing enough to help.
What Can We Do About Alcohol Withdrawal?
We must reiterate again, that alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. We don’t say this to scare you, but to impress upon you how serious this is. Hundreds of people die from the symptoms of alcohol withdrawals every year in the U.S. The saddest part may be that it can almost always be avoided. All you have to do is get medical support and advice before you stop drinking. That is the number one, best thing you can do to avoid the horrible withdrawal and dangers associated with it. No matter what, there is no reason for you or the person you care about to suffer through that. So, don’t. Give Harmony Recovery Center a call at (704) 368-1131 or connect to us through our contact page here.