Alcohol withdrawal syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that can develop when someone with alcohol use disorder suddenly stops drinking.

Alcohol use disorder was formerly known as alcohol addiction or alcoholism. If a person regularly drinks excess alcohol, their body may become dependent on the substance.

Alcohol is a depressant. Alcohol use disorder or drinking heavily over an extended period can change a person’s brain chemistry due to continued exposure to the chemicals in alcohol.

Chronic alcohol use can cause complex changes in the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which affect excitement and a person’s sense of reward.

The production of these neurotransmitters undergoes changes when a person stops or significantly reduces alcohol intake. The brain has to readjust, which leads to withdrawal symptoms.

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People with alcohol withdrawal syndrome can have a wide variety of symptoms. These will depend on how much alcohol they drank, their body type, sex, age, and any underlying medical conditions.

According to health experts, a person may develop symptoms of mild alcohol withdrawal within 6 hours of stopping alcohol. Symptoms can include:

  • tremor
  • weakness
  • sweating
  • hyperreflexia, which refers to an increased or overactive reflex of the muscles
  • gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting
  • a fast heart rate
  • elevated blood pressure
  • headaches

Some people may also experience alcohol-related seizures, alternatively known as tonic-clonic seizures, which can occur 6 to 48 hours after stopping alcohol.

After prolonged and excessive alcohol use

If a person abruptly stops consuming alcohol after prolonged, excessive use, they may experience hallucinations. These develop within 12 to 24 hours after stopping alcohol.

The hallucinations are typically visual but can also include auditory illusions.

Less frequently, people can develop severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens or DTs. DTs usually start between 48 to 72 hours after stopping alcohol.

Symptoms of DTs include:

  • severe tremors
  • elevated blood pressure
  • hallucinations, usually visual
  • extreme disorientation
  • seizures
  • raised body temperature

A person may also experience:

  • anxiety attacks
  • increased confusion
  • sleep issues
  • nightmares and nocturnal illusions
  • excessive sweating
  • severe depression

DTs can be life threatening. In extreme cases, the brain can have problems regulating breathing and circulation. Drastic changes in blood pressure and heart rate can also develop, which may lead to a stroke or heart attack.

While some of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are similar to a hangover, they are not the same condition. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome and a hangover have different causes.

A hangover occurs when a person drinks too much alcohol at one time. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurs when someone with alcohol use disorder stops or suddenly decreases their alcohol intake.

Excess alcohol can irritate the stomach lining, cause dehydration, and lead to an inflammatory response in the body. As the alcohol wears off, these effects lead to common hangover symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and fatigue.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is different. If a person has alcohol use disorder, their body gets used to a certain amount of alcohol in their system.

Continued alcohol consumption causes changes in the central nervous system and neurotransmitter production in the brain. When the supply of alcohol suddenly stops or decreases, withdrawal symptoms can develop.

Anyone who thinks they are dependent on alcohol should consider speaking with a doctor.

Alcohol use disorder can lead to various physical and mental health conditions. However, treatment is available and can be highly effective.

For those trying to detox from alcohol, it is vital to do so under the supervision of a doctor, as the withdrawal symptoms may be severe.

A doctor can often diagnose alcohol withdrawal syndrome by taking a person’s medical history and performing a physical exam.

The doctor may ask for evidence that there has been a decrease in alcohol use after regular heavy use.

They may also do a blood test called a toxicology screen to measure the amount of alcohol in a person’s system. Blood tests and imaging tests can show if organs, such as the liver, have been affected by a person’s intake of alcohol.

Treatment options for alcohol withdrawal syndrome typically involve supportive care to ease the effects of the symptoms.

Doctors usuallyTrusted Source use a type of drug called benzodiazepines to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Heavy alcohol use also depletes the body of vital electrolytes and vitamins, such as folate, magnesium, and thiamine. Therefore, treatment may also include electrolyte corrections and multivitamin fluids.

When a person is detoxing from alcohol, the symptoms may begin anywhere from 6 hours to a few days after their last drink.

Symptoms typically peak after 72 hoursTrusted Source.

Although some people choose to detox at home, it is safer to seek help when detoxing. Symptoms can become severe, and it can be difficult to predict whether individuals will develop life threatening symptoms.

Anyone who has severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, such as seizures, hallucinations, or prolonged vomiting, needs immediate medical treatment.

Those with severe symptoms need to remain in the hospital for part or all of the detox process. This is so a doctor can closely monitor their blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate and provide medications to ease the process.

The most effective way to prevent alcohol withdrawal syndrome is to avoid drinking or drinking only in moderation.

Health experts officially define moderate drinking as 1 drink or less per day for females and 2 drinks or less per day for malesTrusted Source. However, if a person already has alcohol use disorder, they can help prevent some of the withdrawal symptoms by speaking with a doctor about safe withdrawal.

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder include a family history of issues with alcohol, depression and other mental health conditions, and genetic factors.

For those who think they may have alcohol use disorder or may be dependent on alcohol, seeking help is essential.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can develop once a person with alcohol use disorder stops drinking alcohol. More mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms include tremors, weakness, sweating, gastrointestinal symptoms, fast heart rate, headache, and elevated blood pressure.

More severe symptoms can include hallucinations, delirium tremens, and other symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep issues, nightmares, and increased confusion.

Symptoms can begin 6 hours after a person’s last drink and typically peak around 72 hours.

Anyone who thinks they may have alcohol use disorder needs to speak with a healthcare professional. A doctor can help a person detox from alcohol safely.