Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms, Treatment & Timeline

Alcohol withdrawal is easy to diagnose if you have typical symptoms that occur after you stop heavy, habitual drinking. If you have a past experience of withdrawal symptoms, you are likely to have them return if you start and stop heavy drinking again. There are no specific tests that can be used to diagnose alcohol withdrawal. During severe alcohol withdrawal, mental confusion and disorientation affect up to 5% of heavy drinkers, particularly those consuming a pint or more of liquor daily. You’ll typically notice these symptoms emerging 2-3 days after stopping alcohol use, often progressing from initial anxiety and tremors to more severe manifestations. When withdrawal begins, you’ll likely experience significant changes in your emotional state, with about 63% of patients developing major depressive disorder during recovery.

• If you go to the hospital for another reason, tell the providers if you've been drinking heavily so they can monitor you for symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
• Nonetheless, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed until dramatic symptoms occur.
• Without proper medical intervention, you’re at risk for severe complications, including electrolyte imbalances and nutritional deficiencies.
• DT’s, which last up to 3 or 4 days, are characterized by disorientation and are usually accompanied by autonomic signs resulting from the activation of the nerves responsible for the body’s response to stress).

What Medications Are Used for Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcoholism is a progressive condition—the longer it goes on, the worse it usually gets. While the early stages may involve occasional binge drinking or growing dependence, the final stages are marked by severe physical, psychological, and social deterioration. Contact us today to schedule an initial assessment or to learn more about our services. Whether you are seeking intensive outpatient care or simply need guidance on your mental health journey, we are here to help. However, some psychological and emotional symptoms can persist for weeks or months, a condition known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).

When to Call for Backup: Recognizing Medical Emergencies

Clinicians should not assume that a high BAC in patients with apparently minor trauma accounts for their obtundation, which may be due to intracranial injury or other abnormalities. Such patients should also have additional evaluation to search for evidence of trauma or toxicity due to other substances. Stigmata of chronic use include vascular spiders, and, in men, signs of hypogonadism and feminization (eg, smooth skin, lack of male-pattern baldness, gynecomastia, testicular atrophy). Young children who drink alcohol are at significant risk of hypoglycemia because alcohol impairs gluconeogenesis and their smaller stores of glycogen are rapidly depleted. Women may be more sensitive than men, even on a per-weight basis, because their gastric (first-pass) metabolism of alcohol is less due to lower activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in the gastric mucosa. Drinking during pregnancy may result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

General PAWS symptoms

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. If you think you’re experiencing PAWS and your symptoms are becoming hard to manage, a doctor or healthcare professional might be able to help. In some situations, a doctor or psychiatrist might prescribe medication to help with PAWS symptoms.

Is it Safe to Detox from Alcohol at Home?

• Alcohol withdrawal (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) is a range of symptoms that can happen if you stop or significantly reduce alcohol intake after long-term use.
• As our understanding of alcohol withdrawal deepens in 2025, new approaches are emerging alongside gold-standard therapies, offering improved outcomes and safer, more personalized care.
• Alcohol addiction rehabs offer a safe, secure and comfortable environment during the withdrawal phase.

Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your alcohol withdrawal syndrome symptoms life. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don't have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.

If you have co-occurring depression or anxiety, treating these conditions becomes essential, as they can amplify sleep difficulties during withdrawal. Some people think tapering can be a safer way to finally get your heavy alcohol use under control. Tap into your social network to help support you through alcohol withdrawal. Find a supportive friend or family member to be with you while you withdraw and support your new non-drinking lifestyle. However, medical complications can occur during the acute phase of withdrawal. Remember you are facing a difficult challenge during alcohol withdrawal, but you are not alone.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) increases the risk of relapse due to lingering withdrawal symptoms alcoholism that can make recovery challenging. Mood swings, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and cravings can lead individuals to seek relief through substance use. Stress and emotional instability make it harder to cope with daily challenges, increasing vulnerability to relapse. Since PAWS symptoms come in waves, unexpected setbacks can trigger frustration and self-doubt. Without proper support and coping strategies, maintaining sobriety becomes more difficult.

• Healthcare professionals will monitor your vital signs and manage any complications that arise.
• Thus, a diagnosis of DT’s and AW seizures should be made only after other reasonable causes for these complications have been excluded.
• Alcohol should not be used, however, to treat withdrawal for several reasons.
• Knowing what to expect allows you to seek appropriate support at the right time.
• When alcohol consumption abruptly stops, anxiety and nervousness emerge as prominent withdrawal symptoms within 6-12 hours of abstinence.

About five percent of the patients who experience DT’s die from metabolic or cardiovascular complications, trauma, or infections (Victor and Adams 1953; Cutshall 1964). Despite the variability in the type and severity of symptoms that a person can experience, the clinical syndrome of AW has been well defined. Its symptoms generally appear within hours of stopping or even just lowering alcohol intake and, thus, BAC.