What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can occur in anybody who has previously consumed excessive amounts of alcohol or had a dependence on alcohol (alcohol addiction).
Many people experience withdrawal symptoms within the first couple of days after their last drink – however, those with a severe dependence may experience symptoms in as little as a few hours after stopping drinking.
When you drink heavily, your GABA levels (a neurotransmitter in your central nervous system) rise, leading to feelings of calmness, relaxation, and sometimes even euphoria. Excessive drinking can also lower glutamate levels, ultimately decreasing your excitability levels.
Over time, excessive drinking can lead to dependence – and when you are dependent on alcohol, you feel like you need alcohol to feel ‘normal’. Your body gets used to the changes and finds it difficult to increase GABA effects over time and decrease glutamate levels.
This causes an imbalance. When you stop drinking, the GABA receptors remain less responsive, which is worsened by the increase in glutamate levels.
This leaves you feeling unpleasant symptoms when you stop drinking suddenly – for example, you may feel anxious, restless, hyper or shaky.
The symptoms can vary depending on the severity of your addiction. Read on to learn more about physical withdrawal symptoms and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
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Physical Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal can take its toll on your body, leaving you feeling under the weather. Many people only feel mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as nausea or stomach ache.
Below, we categorise symptoms into mild and moderate. Severe symptoms can be found further down the article.
Mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- An upset stomach
- A red face
- Vomiting and nausea
- Sweating
- Hand tremors
- Appetite changes
Moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Heart palpatations
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Changes to your mood
Continue reading to find the more severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms
As well as affecting you physically, alcohol withdrawal can cause psychological symptoms too, as noted above. For example, you may experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
You may also experience behavioural symptoms – you may have trouble sleeping, which can impact your mood. Some people also experience hallucinations, although this is very rare, and is classed as a severe withdrawal symptom.
Psychological withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to manage, which is why many people choose to detox from alcohol in a rehab facility, under the supervision of medical professionals.
Therapy for alcohol withdrawal
Having a solid support network throughout the withdrawal process is key – whether it be friends, family, or medical professionals. Therapy is a key stage of alcohol rehab, and can help you better manage your mental health. This can ultimately ease the unpleasant psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Therapy in rehab can also help you address any unhealthy behaviours or thinking patterns that may have contributed to your addiction.
Therapies such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), counselling and group therapy can not only build your confidence and improve your general well-being but can teach you valuable coping skills that you can implement in your life.
Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
If you are experiencing severe symptoms of withdrawal, we highly recommend that you seek medical attention.
Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrest
- Abnormal breathing
- Hyperthermia
- Detox tremens
Medical professionals may provide you with medication or medical supervision to ensure your safety, as some withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous – for example, high blood pressure. Read on to learn about Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and delirium tremens.
The severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can strike when you stop drinking. Make sure you don’t go cold turkey, that you are not alone when you quit drinking, and that you seek a detox clinic or rehab facility to help you with this potentially deadly step.
You may also suffer from post-alcohol withdrawal syndrome. These symptoms can last for years after you quit drinking but can be effectively handled with therapy. It can onset one or two weeks after your symptoms cease.
Post Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Referred to as PAWS, Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is characterised by a set of symptoms that can make alcohol withdrawal more complicated – and ultimately, more difficult for those experiencing it.
These symptoms often persist for one to two weeks after stopping drinking – these symptoms are also known as prolonged symptoms. However, some symptoms of PAWS can last for years after detoxing from alcohol. The symptoms of PAWS can be effectively managed with therapy.
Delirium Tremens
Quitting Alcohol ‘Cold Turkey’
How Long Before The Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Start to Affect You?
This depends on how frequently you drink. If you drink daily, the withdrawal symptoms will begin at the time you usually take your first drink. If you drink weekly, the withdrawal symptoms might start on the Friday or Saturday night, whenever you drink heaviest
Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline
When you stop drinking, the first symptoms – those milder ones – will start from as little as a few hours after your last drink. They will gradually increase in intensity over the next 24 hours.
Towards the end of this period, you will find the symptoms increase again. The symptoms may become more severe. They will intensify within those first 48 hours. They may start to intensify as little as 12 hours after your last drink.
This is when you are in the danger zone for Delirium Tremens, hallucinations, and other severe symptoms. These can last right up until the 72-hour period but should start to wear off around 48 hours in.
How long does it take for alcohol to leave your body?
We covered the timelines of drug withdrawal in a previous article, but not the time it takes for alcohol to fully evacuate your system.
Alcohol will remain in your hair and fingernails for the longest. It stays in these areas for 3 months. Alcohol leaves your saliva and your urine inside for 24 hours, but only stays in your blood for 6.
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About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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