10 Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal That Might Surprise You

Without treatment, addiction can cause serious health issues, even death. It can damage personal relationships, lead to financial difficulties and cause legal problems. Untreated addiction also harms family members, and the effects can last for generations. For some substances, such as opioids, the withdrawal symptoms are so severe that they create significant motivation to continue using them. The DSM-5 doesn’t currently include other behavioral addictions due to a lack of research on them.

Understanding Severe Symptoms and Complications of Alcohol Withdrawal

During alcohol withdrawal, you’ll likely experience nausea within 6-8 hours after your last drink, affecting nearly 24% of individuals going through withdrawal. Your digestive discomfort may intensify over the first hours, accompanied by symptoms like clammy skin and poor appetite. To manage stomach pain safely, you should maintain hydration, consider doctor-prescribed anti-nausea medications, and watch for signs of severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

signs of alcohol withdrawal

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Like alcohol, these agents enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA on the brain. Because of their similar effects, benzodiazepines and alcohol Alcohol Withdrawal are cross-tolerant—in other words, a person who is tolerant to alcohol also is tolerant to benzodiazepines. Based on the patient’s score on the CIWA–Ar, the physician determines the appropriate treatment (see table). For all patients, especially those experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, proven benefits of treatment include amelioration of symptoms, prevention of both seizures and DT’s, and treatment of DT’s. Treatment also may prevent increasing severity of withdrawal during subsequent withdrawal episodes and encourage the patient to enter alcoholism treatment for relapse prevention. It’s fascinating, yet sobering, to realize how much my body was struggling to cope during my years of heavy drinking.

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has concrete diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders.
The first time you recognize that substance use is negatively impacting your life represents an opportunity to seek help, regardless of whether external circumstances have become dire.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and change thought patterns that contribute to substance use, while family therapy addresses relationship dynamics and builds support systems.
This is the safest level of care if there is any concern about severe withdrawal or medical instability.
I started to feel healthier, and my hangovers gradually disappeared as I drank less and less.
The most severe manifestations of withdrawal include delirium tremens, hallucinations, and seizures.

What causes alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

Your cognitive recovery becomes more challenging when withdrawal is accompanied by malnutrition or infection. The risk increases considerably if you stop drinking abruptly without medical supervision. In severe cases, this confusion occurs alongside delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical intervention. Your risk of severe depression increases if you have co-occurring mental health conditions or a history of heavy drinking. The combination of disrupted neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and GABA, directly impacts your emotional stability during withdrawal.

With proper medical support and comprehensive treatment, you can get through withdrawal safely and build a fulfilling life in recovery.
Mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms can significantly impact your daily activities and quality of life.
You might also have an elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and more severe nausea or vomiting.
What was really happening is that alcohol withdrawal was messing with my brain’s neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood.
You may notice rapid shifts between emotional states within the first 48 hours, making emotional triggers particularly challenging to manage.
Alcohol withdrawal typically begins within 6-12 hours after your last drink, peaks between hours, and the acute physical symptoms usually resolve within 4-10 days.

Common options include diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and lorazepam, and dosing is usually guided by your symptom severity rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all schedule. This level of care is the foundation of a safe detox program because it reduces the risk of life‑threatening complications that can occur when alcohol leaves your system. If you get withdrawal symptoms, you will need medical support to help you reduce and stop your drinking. That will help you decide on the best plan to stop drinking, with support which can include specific prescription medication to take during your withdrawal. This sort of medication can be essential for people with severe alcohol dependence, to avoid the danger of having a seizure during withdrawal, which could result in permanent injury or death.

It’s different to ‘harmful drinking’ (another type of alcohol-use disorder) which is a pattern of heavy drinking which causes damage to your health, but without actual dependence.
Physical fatigue and exhaustion emerge as hallmark symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, affecting nearly all individuals who cease heavy drinking.
Contact your provider right away or go the emergency room if you think you might be in alcohol withdrawal, especially if you were using alcohol often and recently stopped.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for alcohol misuse, and multiple effective, evidence-based treatments are available today. What works best depends on the severity of your drinking, your personal circumstances, any co-occurring mental health conditions, and your individual goals. Experiencing shaking after drinking can range from a temporary inconvenience to a warning sign of serious alcohol dependence. Understanding the causes of tremors after alcohol and recognizing alcohol withdrawal symptoms helps individuals make informed decisions about their health.

Individuals may also want to consider maintenance medications, a support group, or enlisting the support of friends.
You can’t prevent all cases of substance use disorder because there are a lot of factors (many of which are outside of your control) that could play a role in how the condition develops.
The severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms vary based on factors like drinking history, age, and overall health.
Faith Mission provides a humane and caring atmosphere that protects the dignity of each patient while they are safely and effectively withdrawn from alcohol and/or substances.
During these recovery phases, you’ll notice headache intensity generally decreases over time, though the timeline varies among individuals.

If you have withdrawal symptoms from drinking, then you have consumed enough alcohol to damage other organs. Your doctor will want to evaluate you for alcohol-related damage to your liver, heart, the nerves in your feet, blood cell counts, and gastrointestinal tract. Your doctor will assess your nutritional status and check for vitamin deficiencies. Our dedicated staff in Medford, MA, brings expertise and compassion to your recovery process. Each step forward builds momentum toward a healthier, addiction-free life. At Advanced Addiction Center, our medical team carefully monitors these symptoms during the withdrawal process.

Medical professionals may also evaluate for alcohol-related physical complications, such as abnormal liver function, and address any co-occurring mental health conditions. When you stop drinking alcohol, you’ll likely experience several common withdrawal symptoms within 6-12 hours. These include anxiety, hand tremors, headaches, sleep disruption, nausea, confusion, fatigue, vomiting, emotional instability, excessive sweating, heightened heart rate, and blood pressure changes. While less than 5% of the general population experiences withdrawal symptoms, their severity can vary considerably based on your drinking history and pattern. Understanding these symptoms helps you prepare for a safer recovery process.