Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms, Stages, and Effects on the Body

Alcohol is usually the go-to beverage for many adults — whether there’s something to celebrate or something that they’re sad about. It’s easily accessible and produces a range of pleasant feelings. That’s why people often turn to alcohol when they want to destress, feel happy, or feel more comfortable and uninhibited in a particular situation.

However, as you continue to be comfortable with drinking, your dependence on the substance tends to also increase over time.  Left unchecked, it blossoms into something ugly — you may feel like you can’t control the urge to drink anymore, even though you’re aware of the harmful effects your drinking has on your family and relationships. Once you decide to quit drinking, you’ll need all the help you can get since it will be a challenging journey, especially when the alcohol withdrawal and resulting effects kick in.

In this post, we will talk about the basics of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, including the various stages, and the effects on the body. Let’s get to it. 

What Does Alcohol Withdrawal Look Like?

Alcohol withdrawal has plenty of symptoms, and they are a mix of physical and psychological symptoms. On the physical side, you will see yourself sweating profusely and experiencing hand tremors. In addition, you may also feel nauseous. In severe cases, you may experience fits or seizures.

Withdrawal symptoms mean that you have developed a heavy physical dependence on alcohol. When you’ve developed alcohol dependence, you’ll feel a strong uncontrollable desire to drink. Also, you’ll feel as though you’re unable to function without alcohol.

What Are The Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal?

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can appear between eight hours to a few days after you stop drinking alcohol. Generally, symptoms peak around twenty-four to seventy-two hours. However, they may go on for weeks. You’ll notice the symptoms more as you start each day with less alcohol in your blood.

Generally, the symptoms include at least two of the following symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Tremors
• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Confusion
• Sweating
• Nightmares

It’s essential to add a more severe type of withdrawal symptom called delirium tremens (TD). Experiencing any of the symptoms of DT is considered a medical emergency. You’ll need to go to the emergency room and seek medical help immediately.

With DT, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Hallucinations (visual, tactile, and auditory)
• Seizures
• Fever
• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Extreme agitation and confusion
• Excessive sweating
• Fast respirations 

What Are The Stages Of Alcohol Withdrawal?

Generally, the alcohol withdrawal timeline occurs in three main stages. The stages from alcohol withdrawal start with mild symptoms, then progress to moderate symptoms, and eventually to severe symptoms. Although it’s a challenging process, once you’ve reached the end of the detox process, you’ll feel much better and back to normal again. 

Mild Symptoms

You’ll usually experience mild symptoms around six to eight hours after you’ve had your last drink. These mild symptoms may resemble that of a hangover. Some of these mild symptoms may be:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Excessive sweating
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Tremors

Moderate Symptoms

As the stage one symptoms disappear, the moderate symptoms will begin. Moderate symptoms usually happen between twelve to twenty-four hours since your last alcohol intake. Some of the moderate symptoms may include:

• Fever
• High blood pressure
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Irregular heartbeat

Severe Symptoms

Severe symptoms begin to manifest around forty-eight to seventy-two hours after your last drink. Severe symptoms may occur without any warning signs. Thus, it’s crucial to have medical supervision during alcohol detoxification. Some of the symptoms may include:

• Delirium
• Hallucinations
• Fever
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Seizures

The alcohol detoxification timeline varies for every individual. That’s why it’s best to have medical supervision when undergoing detox to ensure your health and safety.

Effects Of Alcohol Withdrawal On The Body

Although the effects of AWS on the body in the earlier stages may be severely uncomfortable, the effects take a positive turn as you progress in the process. Also, it’s important to note that the impact on the body is dependent on the extent of organ damage and whether you return to drinking or not.

Here are some of the effects you might experience after you’ve finished your alcohol detox:

• Mood swings
• Sleep disturbances
• Low energy levels 

Why Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Seizures?

According to a study, the most studied types of seizures in AWS are audiogenic seizures. These seizures usually originate in the brainstem. Alcohol intoxication suppresses neurons in a part of the brain called the inferior colliculus (IC) central nucleus.

At the start of seizures, there is a sustained increase in the firing of neurons. The amplified activity of the neurons in the brain may play a role in triggering audiogenic seizures.

Heavy alcohol dependence subdues neurons from performing their function. As alcohol slowly leaves your body, your brain’s neurons start to become active. The rapid firing of your neurons may be what causes alcohol withdrawal seizures.  

Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

The treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome depends on the severity of your symptoms. Some individuals can have their symptoms treated at home. On the other hand, others need to be in a hospital or facility since their severe symptoms need to be monitored just in case life-threatening complications occur.

At Home

If your AWS symptoms are mild, they can be treated at home as long as a family member or a friend can keep watch over you. That way, they can supervise your treatment and get you to a hospital if your condition worsens.

Your family member or friend is also responsible for ensuring that you attend your doctor appointments regularly. However, if your home is not conducive to quitting alcohol for good, you can tell your medical practitioner about this. Physicians can recommend facilities that will help you in your journey of defeating alcohol addiction. 

At the Hospital

Hospitalization is required for more severe symptoms. Your physician will need to monitor you throughout your treatment to avoid any complications that might occur. Also, you may need fluids and medications given to you intravenously to help with your symptoms.

The danger of AWS symptoms is the rise of complications, which can be life-threatening. That’s why it’s highly recommended to undergo alcohol detox in a facility where you’ll feel comfortable and receive medical supervision and assistance at the same time. 

Facilities like Buena Vista Health and Recovery Center offer programs that help people to recover from alcohol addiction. The goal of recovery centers like these is to help people with addiction with treatments that are tailored to the individual’s needs.

Closing Thoughts

Alcohol addiction can rob us of living a full and meaningful life by heavily straining our relationships and damaging our bodies. However, it’s never too late to regain control of your life. Although the road to recovery is a challenging one, it’s not an impossible task. There are plenty of facilities that will help you get back on your feet so you won’t have to take the first step alone.

Asking for help is a sign of strength and providing the help you need is the goal of Buena Vista Health and Recovery Center. Take back control over your addictions and your life by contacting us at 800-922-0094 by filling out our contact form.