Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

If you drink alcohol heavily for a long time, you may have both mental and physical problems when you stop or drastically cut back on how much you drink.

What is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome?

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) is the name for the symptoms that occur when a heavy drinker suddenly stops or significantly reduces their alcohol intake. These can range from mild to serious and can sometimes be confused with hangover symptoms which is potentially dangerous. 

What causes Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome?

Alcohol disrupts the normal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain (dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid both increase). The more the brain becomes accustomed to the artificial levels, the more it will rely on alcohol to keep these levels stable.

When this happens, your central nervous system can no longer adapt easily to a lack of alcohol. If you suddenly stop drinking or significantly reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it can cause AWS.

What are the symptoms?

The signs and symptoms of AWS may appear anywhere from six hours to two days after your last drink. These usually include at least two of the following:
  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Shaking
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Disorientation
  • Hand tremors
  • Seizures
The most severe type of withdrawal syndrome is known as delirium tremens (DT) and can be fatal. Its symptoms usually present within two to three days after drinking has stopped or been cut back:
  • Extreme confusion
  • Extreme agitation
  • Tactile, auditory, and visual hallucinations
  • Fever
  • Perspiration
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Heightened heart rate
  • Tremors
If you have severe AWS symptoms, it’s a medical emergency and you must call 999.

How is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome treated?

Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. Some people can be treated at home, but others may need supervised care in a hospital setting to avoid potentially dangerous complications such as seizures. You can read more about the treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal here

Read more about drinking and it's effect on the body:

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