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Important Information About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
With regular consumption of alcohol, the brain gradually adapts to the alcohol so that normal functioning is possible.
This not only explains how physical tolerance develops but it also explains why increasingly more alcohol is needed to get the same "buzz" or "high" with regular use.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
When an individual who has exhibited a pattern of continuous and excessive consumption suddenly stops drinking alcohol, however, he or she typically suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which may take days or weeks before the body returns to "normal."
Basically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are responses by the brain and by the body to the lack of alcohol to which they had become adapted. Alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both behavioral and psychological components.
Mild and Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following list are some of the mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically take place within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink has been ingested:
Rapid heart rate
Depression
Feeling nervous or jumpy
Headaches (especially those that pulsate)
Fatigue
Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following are some of the severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that usually take place within 48 to 96 hours after the last alcoholic drink has been consumed:
Convulsions
Extreme anxiety
Black outs
Visual hallucinations
Delirium tremens (DTs)
Out-Patient versus In-Patient Status
Approximately 95% of the people who quit drinking alcohol experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms and can usually be treated on an out-patient basis by a healthcare professional. The remaining 5% of the individuals who suffer from withdrawal symptoms, however, experience symptoms so excessive that they must be treated in a hospital or in an alcohol rehab facility that specializes in alcohol withdrawal treatment. It is important to emphasize, however, that all people who experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms need professional treatment.
Alcohol Withdrawal: Non-Drug Therapies
A number of different non-drug techniques exist for treating alcohol withdrawal. Indeed, according to the current research literature, it appears that the safest way to treat mild withdrawal symptoms is without medications. Such forms of non-drug treatment use extensive social support and screening during the entire withdrawal process.
Alcohol Withdrawal Medications
Many researchers state that chronic alcoholics who cannot maintain sobriety should receive therapeutic medications to treat and manage their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Another key benefit of this form of treatment is that individuals who are alcohol dependent are less likely to experience possible brain damage and/or seizures when they receive various therapeutic medications for their dependency.
Alcohol research scientists have recently found that the alcohol withdrawal medications most likely to produce positive results when treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the benzodiazepines. Examples include the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Serax and the longer-acting benzodiazepines such as Valium and Librium.
Medications to Counteract Relapses
Another facet of alcohol withdrawal treatment with therapeutic medications focuses on different drugs such as naltrexone (ReViaT) or disulfiram (Antabuse) that are prescribed by a health care practitioner in an attempt to help prevent the person from returning to drinking after he or she has experienced a relapse and consumes alcohol.
Alcohol Withdrawals: Always See Your Doctor
When experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your doctor or healthcare provider immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of your situation and suggest the best option for treatment.
Alcohol Withdrawal: Conclusion
The bottom line regarding alcohol withdrawals is this: everyone who experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms needs professional alcohol withdrawal treatment.
Alcohol Withdrawal and Other Alcohol-Related Quick Facts
Did you know...
"According to alcoholism research, approximately, 20% of alcoholics are able to abstain from alcohol permanently without the help of formal treatment or self-help programs such as AA. Of those patients who attend AA, 44% who remain abstinent for one year probably will remain abstinent for another year. This figure increases to 91% for those who have remained abstinent and attended AA for five years or more.""According to U.S. alcoholism researchers, even when people with alcoholism experience withdrawal symptoms, they nearly always deny the problem, leaving it up to coworkers, friends, or relatives to recognize the symptoms and to take the first steps toward encouraging treatment. Denial, in fact, may be an important warning signal for alcoholism."
"This is some information about alcohol and drug testing that many people don't know about. Not only are employers implementing drug and alcohol tests for their employees, but when people go the hospital emergency room, if there is an indication that the person has been drinking or has taken drugs, alcohol tests and/or drug tests are administered."
"According to the 2000 Monitoring the Future study conducted each year for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 22 percent of U.S. 8th graders say they have consumed alcohol, and 8 percent say they have been drunk within the past year."
"According to a report published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, policy-makers need to step up enforcement of underage drinking laws and finance additional treatment programs for adolescents."
"To make the argument for alcohol abstention and pregnancy even stronger, according to recent studies by U.S. research scientists, women who continue to drink even small amounts of alcohol while trying to become pregnant, may reduce their chances of conceiving."
"Although some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal. If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision."
"When an individual consumes a heavy amount of alcohol over a short period of time, or use is continuous over a number of days or weeks, this is called bingeing, intensive use, or binge drinking."
"If an alcoholic continues to drink excessively after numerous or ongoing alcoholism treatments, their prognosis is very poor. In short, persistent heavy drinkers will often succumb to the effects of alcohol."
"When an individual uses alcohol to cope with the demands of particular situations, this is called situational alcohol use."
"Alcohol blocks out emotional pain and is often perceived as a loyal and trustworthy friend when meaningful relationships fail."
"Once sober, alcoholism patients can begin rehabilitation. Many enroll in hospital-based or freestanding alcoholism treatment centers."
"More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers, moreover, develop alcoholic hepatitis (that is, an inflammation of the liver) as a result of long-term heavy drinking."
"According to U.S. research statistics, the overwhelming majority of American youth cite their parents as the primary influence in their decisions about whether they drink alcohol or not."
"Treatment for alcoholism has been shown to reduce U.S. criminal activity up to 80% among chronic offenders, has increased their rate of employment, decreases homelessness and reduces all health care costs."
"Various research statistics reveal that there are millions of U.S. adolescents who engage in excessive and abusive drinking. For instance, some studies show that 30% of U.S. teens drink alcoholic beverages."
"According to U.S. research, alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both in about half of all homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes."
"According to CQ researcher, by the time U.S. teenagers reach driving age they will have seen 75,000 ads for alcohol."
"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, school age kids with multiple reasons to drink, including reasons related to coping with life, show the heaviest and most problematic drinking behaviors."
"The following represents mild to moderate psychological withdrawal symptoms that usually occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink: nightmares, difficulty thinking clearly, anxiety, fatigue, rapid emotional changes, feeling nervous or jumpy, depression, or irritability."
"According to one U.S. study, three out of ten adults surveyed reported that drinking has been a cause of trouble in their family."
"In the United States, children of alcoholics tend to do worse academically than others, have a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress and lower self-esteem than their peers."
"Alcoholism research shows that identifying and preventing alcohol abuse problems in youth necessitates different assessment, treatment, and screening methodologies than those that are employed for adults."
"Research shows that as people age, it takes fewer drinks to become intoxicated, and organs can be damaged by smaller amounts of alcohol than in younger people. Also, up to one-half of the 100 most prescribed drugs for older people react adversely with alcohol."
"Alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated $220 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) and with obesity ($133 billion)."
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Listen To A Free "Talking eBook" About Alcohol
If you would like to listen to a professionally done, free "talking eBook" about alcohol entitled The Truth About Alcohol, please click on this link. Current News and Info About Alcohol Withdrawal from Yahoo News
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anchovie
Very informative and much needed! Keep up the good work! Posted October 19, 2007 |
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Nicegoogoo
Great lens on withdrawal of alcohol.Liked the topic and the content and rated 5 stars for this. Posted July 29, 2007 |
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Glad to have you as a member of the Health and Wellbeing Group - drop by the Group HQ sometime and see what is there for you Posted July 27, 2007 |
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Alcohol Withdrawal Links
- Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are responses by the body and the brain to the lack of alcohol to which they have become accustomed.
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- When a chronic drinker abruptly stops drinking alcohol, he or she usually experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are essentially responses by the brain and by the body to the lack of alcohol to which they have become adapted.
- Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment
- All individuals who experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms need professional alcohol withdrawal treatment.
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