Alcohol Detox & Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be one of the most severe detoxes depending on how heavily the abuser used alcohol. Addicts who didn’t consume that much may experience anxiety, depression, nausea, and sweating. Alcoholics that consumed large amounts of alcohol daily may have mental confusion, severe tremors, delirium, hallucinations, and/or dangerous seizures.
Withdrawal symptoms can start as early as two hours after the last drink and last for weeks. The symptoms can range from mild anxiety to seizures and delirium tremens (DTs), which consist of fever, confusion, and rapid heart beat. It is estimated that 1% to 5% of alcoholics die from DTs. This is why it is important to have a medically supervised detox. Recovery Ways has experienced clinicians to supervise patients and make sure they are ok and reduce the risks of DTs or seizures during detox.
In general, minor symptoms appear within 12 hours after a person stops drinking. The next 12 to 48 hours patients may have auditory, tactile, or visual hallucinations but since they know they aren’t real they are not the same as the hallucinations that come with the DTs. Seizures can start as early as 2 hours after someone stops drinking, but is more likely between 24 -48 hours. DTs usually start between 48-72 hours and the symptoms usually, peak at 5 days. Those who are older, have abnormal liver function, acute medical illness or a history of withdrawal seizures and DTs are more likely to get them.