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01 December, 2012

Duration of Some Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

How long will alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?

There will come a time that a person will think of quitting alcohol. This is when he already realized the damaging effects of alcohol and the negativity it has brought to his life. But he should be prepared to face alcohol withdrawal symptoms and he should familiarize his mind to the duration of these symptoms to anticipate the challenges associated in giving up a habit.


Many people became a slave of alcohol for different and unique reasons. There are people who drink and abuse alcohol due to an attempt to escape from life’s pressure, stress, trauma or depression. Some people drink and somehow abuse the addictive substance due to constant partying and social gatherings. It may not be an issue for some, but for others, continuous excessive drinking often leads to alcohol addiction.

And when they decide to quit, there are issues and concerns to tackle first before enjoying a sober life. One of these issues is alcohol withdrawal symptoms. So, what are alcohol withdrawal symptoms? What is the duration of alcohol withdrawals? Alcohol withdrawal symptoms or syndrome occurs when there is an abrupt cessation of alcohol. When alcohol is consumed, the brain produces certain enzymes to counteract with the harmful effects of alcohol in the body. When there is a sudden stop of using alcohol, the brain also stops producing these enzymes and it is in this situation that leads to the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. What are these symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and the duration of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is what we will be talking about in this article. Please continue reading to get more details on the different duration of alcohol withdrawals.

Symptoms and Duration of Alcohol Withdrawal

Tremors in the body withdrawal symptoms (2 days)

One of the most common symptoms that may occur as a result of quitting drinking is tremors and shakes. These shakes are more common on the hands. The first symptoms of tremors and shakes make way in the duration of 5-10 hours after the last drink is consumed. Not only that it will cause your body to shake but also include a number of other symptoms as part of the first reactions that you are experiencing. These include irritability, restlessness, rapid heartbeat and pulse, increased blood pressure, rapid breathing, vomiting, nausea, profuse sweating, anxiety, nightmares and a state of high alert. All these symptoms will continue to grow intensely for roughly 2 days. The duration of these tremors will subside after a week or so, just after the body starts adjusting.

Hallucinations withdrawal symptoms (4 days)

One of the common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is that a person starts hallucinating about various things such as objects, sounds and smells. The most common hallucinations have been reported as seeing and tracking moving objects and the feeling that one is falling from above. This symptom will take shape within 12 hours to one day after the last drink. The condition can be very, very intense making a person totally disillusioned. The duration may generally occur 4 days or so.

Delirium Tremens or DTs withdrawal symptoms (6 days)

This is one of the most severe symptoms associated with alcohol addiction. This condition is known to bring rapid rise of body temperature, fast heartbeats and involuntary body movements. It can also leads to dramatic increase of blood pressure, palpitations and dehydration. This condition also causes mood swings, nervousness, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, sweating, irrational beliefs, loss of concentration, confusion, decreased blood flow to the brain and disorientation. Delirium tremens begin within 2 to 3 days from the last drink and can lasts for 6 days depending on the psychical tolerance of a person.

The most serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms will last a maximum of 14 days, but if the condition is really bad, then it can even extend for more than a month. When a person begins to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms, he should immediately ask medical attention from alcohol addiction experts and health care provider. The symptoms are life threatening, the duration can last for so long and the symptoms can develop into more severe condition, so one should be properly treated and care to prevent additional damages and risks.

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