There are many different alcohol withdrawals symptoms. When someone mentions alcohol withdrawal, they are referring to the symptoms that a person will suffer if they have been consuming too much alcohol regularly and then suddenly stop drinking.

The more you usually drink, the more likely you are to experience alcohol withdrawals symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol.

Usually, an individual will start experiencing alcohol withdrawals symptoms within 8 hours of stopping drinking. While symptoms peak anywhere from 24 hours to 72 hours after the last drink, the symptoms could last for several weeks. Some symptoms are more common than others.

Some of the more common alcohol withdrawals symptoms include:

• Inability to think clearly
• Nightmares
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Shakiness
• Mood Swings

Additional symptoms might include:

• Clammy skin
• Sweating
• Dilated pupils
• Headaches
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting and nausea
• Rapid heart rate
• Tremors

In some instances, a severe form of alcohol withdrawals that is called delirium tremens can lead to more severe symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Seizures
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Severe confusion

If you are suffering from alcohol withdrawals, your healthcare provider will perform an examination. The medical practitioner will be looking for several things.

A physical might reveal:

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Abnormal eye movements
• Dehydration
• Rapid breathing
• Fever
• Tremors – especially of the hands

Your physician might do blood and urine tests, including a toxicology screen.

When you are undergoing alcohol withdrawals, it can be a stressful and intense time. Usually, the symptoms start anywhere from 4 hours to 8 hours after the last drink. The alcohol withdrawal timeline can vary significantly.

It depends on the individual, how much you drank regularly, and the frequency of drinking. The withdrawals symptoms can last several weeks. Those who drink daily or several times every day are much more likely to suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Because some symptoms are severe, you should get treated by medical professionals. It is essential for the treating physician to know the entire medical history of the patient.

The healthcare provider will need to know about any mental conditions and health problems as well as any medications taken regularly.

When going through alcohol withdrawals, you need to go through supervised medical detox. The doctor will determine if prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepines, are necessary to reduce the alcohol withdrawal symptoms suffered by the central nervous system.

There are several signs of alcohol withdrawal. The severity of the signs of withdrawal varies from one person to another. For those who don’t drink as frequently or as heavily, the symptoms might mimic a hangover. There are risks of delirium tremens, which is a severe reaction to stopping drinking.

As the most severe form of alcohol withdrawals symptoms, delirium tremens, which is sometimes called withdrawal delirium can cause both sudden and severe problems in the nervous system and the brain.

While 50% of those who drink suffer alcohol withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, about 3% to 5% will experience delirium tremens.

Those who drink heavily might suffer from the condition if they have a head injury, suddenly stop drinking, don’t eat enough while reducing alcohol consumption, reduce alcohol consumption too quickly, or have an infection or illness.

When someone drinks excessively, the nervous system is irritated and excited. With daily drinking, the body will gain an alcohol dependency.

The central nervous system won’t quickly adapt to decreased alcohol intake. The alcohol can affect neurotransmitters in your brain causing you to feel relaxed.

When your neurotransmitters aren’t suppressed any longer and are focusing on working more to overcome that suppression, they will kick into overexcitement. When alcohol consumption stops, there will be alcohol withdrawals symptoms.

Who would be at risk of alcohol withdrawal delirium if you have been drinking heavily for an extended amount of time, have previously suffered alcohol withdrawal delirium, health problems in addition to alcoholism, and a history of brain damage or seizure disorders.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classify heavy drinking as consuming 15 or more drinks per week for a man or 8 or more weeks for a woman.

Different kinds of drinks quantify as a drink in varying amounts. As an example, five ounces of wine equals a drink while 12 ounces of beer or eight ounces of malt liquor are the equivalent of a drink.