Alcohol withdrawal

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Alcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol every day suddenly stops drinking alcohol.

Alcohol withdrawal usually occurs in adults, but it may occur in teenagers or children as well. It can occur when a person who often uses alcohol excessively suddenly stops drinking alcohol. Withdrawal usually occurs within 5 - 10 hours after the last drink, but it may occur days later.

The more heavily you drink every day, the more likely you will be to develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. The likelihood of developing severe withdrawal symptoms also increases if you have certain other medical problems.

Review Date: 03/29/2010
Reviewed By: David B. Merrill, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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