Alcoholism Withdrawal

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When a heavy drinker suddenly stops drinking alcohol, he or she typically experiences alcoholism withdrawal symptoms.  Alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are basically responses by the brain and by the body to the lack of alcohol to which they have become accustomed.

Alcoholism Withdrawal, Effects on The Brain, and Tolerance

With regular ingestion of alcohol, the brain gradually adjusts to the alcohol so that normal functioning is possible.

This explains how physical tolerance develops and also why increasingly more alcohol is needed to experience the same "high" or "buzz" with regular use.

When a person who has manifested a pattern of continuous and heavy consumption abruptly stops drinking alcohol, however, he or she usually suffers from alcoholism withdrawal symptoms which can take days or weeks before the body returns to "normal." 

Essentially, alcoholism withdrawal symptoms are responses by the brain and by the body to the lack of alcohol to which they had become accustomed.

Depending on the level of dependency that a person has attained, alcoholism withdrawal can range from mild to moderate to severe and can include both psychological and behavioral aspects.

Mild to Moderate Alcoholism Withdrawal Symptoms

The following is a list of mild to moderate alcoholism withdrawal symptoms that usually take place within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink has been ingested:

• Eyes or pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
• Rapid emotional changes
• Tremor of the hands
• Anxiety
• Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
• Easily excited, irritability
• Looking pale, without color
• Vomiting
• Clammy skin
• Abnormal movements
• Sweating (especially on the face or the palms of the hands)
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Headaches (especially those that pulsate)
• Rapid heart rate
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Feeling nervous or jumpy
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia, sleeping difficulties

Severe Alcoholism Withdrawal Symptoms

The following are severe alcoholism withdrawal symptoms that usually occur within 48 to 96 hours after the last alcoholic drink has been consumed: 

• Excessive irritability
• Muscle tremors
• Visual hallucinations
• Severe autonomic nervous system overactivity
• Fever
• Increased difficulty thinking clearly
• Increased depression
• Convulsions
• Black outs
• Delirium tremens (DTs)
• More extreme emotional changes
• Seizures
• Extreme anxiety

Alcoholism Withdrawal:  Conclusion

The first concern when experiencing alcoholism withdrawal should be who you should contact about the alcoholism withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing.   

In short, when suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your healthcare provider or your doctor immediately so that he or she can evaluate the seriousness of your circumstances and suggest the best available treatment option.

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