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Alcohol
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Alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Originally Published: May 06, 2005
~ Last Updated / Reviewed on: April 11, 2008
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Dear Alice,
I've been a very heavy drinker for a number of years and it has started to impact my job and family relationships. Recently I've been trying to quit or moderate my drinking and that has been met with little success. I will go a few days without drinking and then the uncontrollable urge overcomes me and I end up at the bar promising to have only 1 - 2 (which then end up being my normal 10 or 11). Every time now that I cut back on my alcohol intake, I get very serious withdrawal symptoms, such as twitches and shakes, night sweats, nervousness, and anxiousness. It is getting to be so bad that I feel worse than if I were suffering a hangover. I'm wondering how long will these symptoms continue? A few weeks ago, I went about 10 days without drinking and thought I was over the symptoms, but I regressed and started drinking heavily again. Now, it has been 4 days since my last drink and I can barely concentrate at work because of the twitching and nervousness. I don't go to doctors and think that I can work myself through this on my own. I'm just wondering how long this will last and if there is anything that I can do that would make this process easier. Thank you! Dear Reader, Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can last anywhere from twenty-four hours to weeks, depending upon how dependent on alcohol a person has become. The symptoms that you describe are similar to those people experience during alcohol withdrawal:
As dependency worsens, some people develop a life-threatening condition called Delirium Tremens (DT). If you are having or develop any of these symptoms, please treat this situation as a medical emergency and see a health care provider immediately:
As you describe your situation, moderating your alcohol consumption has not worked for you. You have tried numerous times to stop drinking alcohol, with little to no success. You also lose control of your drinking when you try hard not to. It's time to see your health care provider or to contact a local alcohol treatment program to determine the best medical way for you to stop drinking. Whoever it is you seek help with, that professional will give you a physical exam and ask about your medical history, your alcohol intake, and your symptoms, especially as they relate to going cold turkey. S/he will test your glucose levels and liver function to rule out any immediate medical emergencies that need to be addressed. S/he will ask a number of questions about your alcohol consumption. If there is anything that this practitioner did not ask about, then be sure to tell her/him. S/he needs all the available information to take the best possible care of you. The health professional may refer you to a counselor or program to determine why and when your drinking became excessive and uncontrollable, in order to develop a plan to combat your dependency. The health practitioner may also refer you to a substance abuse specialist or program to determine if you are a candidate for out-patient treatment or whether you need closer observation as an in-patient. Treatment consists of providing you with a healthy eating plan, an appropriate regimen of vitamins and minerals, especially thiamine, and medication, such as benzodiazepines like Valium, to help lessen the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. In order to work on the psychological and emotional issues behind your alcohol consumption, you need to integrate substance abuse counseling and support groups for you, your family, and your close friends. Do not wait any longer. A myriad of services and resources are available to you. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one option you can try. If you wish, you can even go to a meeting in a different part of town so that you do not encounter any family, friends, or work associates along the way. Al-Anon is a similar program for your family, as is Alateen, if you have teenagers. Your job may offer a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that aids its employees in finding the correct substance abuse services to fight their dependencies or addictions. You cannot do this alone and need a course of action, and a commitment to this course of action, to get through and survive. Even though you want to stop drinking without any help, there is no need to hit rock bottom before reaching out for assistance from others — and it appears you've taken your first step in getting there by writing to Alice. Recovery from alcohol use is difficult and time-consuming, if not all-consuming, so you'll need all the resources and support available to you to work on this day-by-day. Please check out these links for additional information on alcohol dependence and recovery:
You have taken the first step in realizing that you have a serious problem with alcohol and no longer want your relationship with alcohol to harm you, your loved ones, and employment. You have also taken a further step by actually inquiring about help. These are brave moves toward stopping this unhealthy behavior.
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