Alcohol withdrawal syndrome or alcoholism withdrawal [http://oceanhillsrecovery.com/alcoholism-symptoms.php] is the set of symptoms seen when an individual reduces or stops alcohol consumption after prolonged periods of excessive alcohol intake. Excessive abuse of alcohol leads to tolerance, physical dependence, and an alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Alcoholism withdrawal is a very well known term for doctors and psychiatrists alike.
Though the term may sound very similar to drug withdrawal, alcoholism withdrawal [http://oceanhillsrecovery.com/alcoholism-symptoms.php] differs significantly because it can be directly fatal. Drugs which have a similar mechanism of action to alcohol also have a similar risk of causing death during withdrawal, including barbiturate and benzodiazepine withdrawal. However, it is extremely rare for drug withdrawal like heroin withdrawal to be fatal. When people die from heroin or cocaine withdrawal they typically have serious underlying health problems which are made worse by the strain of acute withdrawal. On the other hand, an alcoholic who has no serious health issues, still has a significant risk of dying from the direct effects of withdrawal if it is not properly managed.
The severity of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome can vary from mild symptoms such as mild sleep disturbances and mild anxiety to very severe and life threatening including delirium, particularly visual hallucinations in severe cases and convulsions (which may result in death). Common symptoms of alcoholism withdrawal are:
* Increase in Agitation
* Auditory hallucinations, most commonly accusatory or threatening voices
* Anorexia
* Panic Attacks from Anxieties
* Psychic and motoric disturbances
* Confusion
* Delirium tremens
* Depression
* Derealization, which is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal.
* Diaphores or excessive sweating
* Diarrhea
* Euphoria
* Fear
* Gastrointestinal upset
* Hallucinations
* Headache
* Hypertension
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Nausea and vomiting
* Palpitations
* Psychosis
* Rebound REM sleep
* Seizures and death
* Tachycardia which is a term used when a heart rate exceeds the normal range for a resting heartrate.
* Tremors which is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements of one or more body parts.
* Weakness
* Hyperthermia
* Increase in Agitation
* Auditory hallucinations, most commonly accusatory or threatening voices
* Anorexia
* Panic Attacks from Anxieties
* Psychic and motoric disturbances
* Confusion
* Delirium tremens
* Depression
* Derealization, which is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal.
* Diaphores or excessive sweating
* Diarrhea
* Euphoria
* Fear
* Gastrointestinal upset
* Hallucinations
* Headache
* Hypertension
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Nausea and vomiting
* Palpitations
* Psychosis
* Rebound REM sleep
* Seizures and death
* Tachycardia which is a term used when a heart rate exceeds the normal range for a resting heartrate.
* Tremors which is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements of one or more body parts.
* Weakness
* Hyperthermia
The severity of alcohol withdrawal depends on various factors including age, genetics, degree of alcohol intake, length of time the individual has been misusing alcohol, and number of previous detoxifications. Acute alcoholism withdrawal symptoms tend to subside after 1 to 3 weeks. Less severe symptoms, like insomnia and anxiety, may continue as part of a post withdrawal syndrome gradually improving with abstinence for a year or more.
Though the term may sound very similar to drug withdrawal, alcoholism withdrawal [http://oceanhillsrecovery.com/alcoholism-symptoms.php] differs significantly because it can be directly fatal. Drugs which have a similar mechanism of action to alcohol also have a similar risk of causing death during withdrawal, including barbiturate and benzodiazepine withdrawal. However, it is extremely rare for drug withdrawal like heroin withdrawal to be fatal. When people die from heroin or cocaine withdrawal they typically have serious underlying health problems which are made worse by the strain of acute withdrawal. On the other hand, an alcoholic who has no serious health issues, still has a significant risk of dying from the direct effects of withdrawal if it is not properly managed.
The severity of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome can vary from mild symptoms such as mild sleep disturbances and mild anxiety to very severe and life threatening including delirium, particularly visual hallucinations in severe cases and convulsions (which may result in death). Common symptoms of alcoholism withdrawal are:
* Increase in Agitation
* Auditory hallucinations, most commonly accusatory or threatening voices
* Anorexia
* Panic Attacks from Anxieties
* Psychic and motoric disturbances
* Confusion
* Delirium tremens
* Depression
* Derealization, which is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal.
* Diaphores or excessive sweating
* Diarrhea
* Euphoria
* Fear
* Gastrointestinal upset
* Hallucinations
* Headache
* Hypertension
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Nausea and vomiting
* Palpitations
* Psychosis
* Rebound REM sleep
* Seizures and death
* Tachycardia which is a term used when a heart rate exceeds the normal range for a resting heartrate.
* Tremors which is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements of one or more body parts.
* Weakness
* Hyperthermia
* Increase in Agitation
* Auditory hallucinations, most commonly accusatory or threatening voices
* Anorexia
* Panic Attacks from Anxieties
* Psychic and motoric disturbances
* Confusion
* Delirium tremens
* Depression
* Derealization, which is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal.
* Diaphores or excessive sweating
* Diarrhea
* Euphoria
* Fear
* Gastrointestinal upset
* Hallucinations
* Headache
* Hypertension
* Insomnia
* Irritability
* Nausea and vomiting
* Palpitations
* Psychosis
* Rebound REM sleep
* Seizures and death
* Tachycardia which is a term used when a heart rate exceeds the normal range for a resting heartrate.
* Tremors which is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements of one or more body parts.
* Weakness
* Hyperthermia
The severity of alcohol withdrawal depends on various factors including age, genetics, degree of alcohol intake, length of time the individual has been misusing alcohol, and number of previous detoxifications. Acute alcoholism withdrawal symptoms tend to subside after 1 to 3 weeks. Less severe symptoms, like insomnia and anxiety, may continue as part of a post withdrawal syndrome gradually improving with abstinence for a year or more.
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