Alcohol withdrawal

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Permanent and life-long abstinence from alcohol is the best treatment for those who have gone through withdrawal.

For additional resources, see alcoholism support group.

Alcohol withdrawal may range from a mild and uncomfortable disorder to a serious, life-threatening condition. Symptoms usually begin within 5 - 10 hours of the last drink. The symptoms peak in 48 - 72 hours and may persist for weeks.

Symptoms such as sleep changes, rapid changes in mood, and fatigue may last for months. People who continue to drink excessively may develop many medical conditions such as liver and heart disease.

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Most people who go through alcohol withdrawal make a full recovery; however, a small percentage of alcohol withdrawal cases end in death, especially if delirium tremens is present. For those who recover from alcohol withdrawal, the long-term outlook depends on how much organ damage has occurred and whether the person can stop drinking completely.

Alcohol withdrawal is a serious condition that may rapidly become life threatening.

Call your health care provider or go the emergency room if you think you might be in alcohol withdrawal, especially if you were using alcohol often and recently stopped. Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms persist after treatment.

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations, or irregular heartbeats occur.

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).