There is no exact timeline for alcohol withdrawal, and individual factors, such as the level of dependence on alcohol, will influence it. Over time, however, the body builds a tolerance to alcohol, and a person may have to drink more and more to get the same feeling. Meanwhile, the brain is producing more and more neurotransmitters, making a person further imbalanced. Alcohol works as a depressant on the central nervous system and alters the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors.

• Because alcohol withdrawal can produce uncomfortable or even life-threatening symptoms, those who want to quit drinking should detox under medical supervision.
• The typical time of onset for DTs is between 48 to 72 hours after someone has had their last drink, although it is possible to occur sooner or later.
• Unstable vital signs increase the risk of complications and can be managed with medications.

Suddenly stopping alcohol after abusing it chronically diminishes the inhibitory effects of the body’s GABA receptors. Therefore, people who heavily abuse alcohol should why does alcohol withdrawal cause seizures never try to stop drinking on their own. Medically supervised and supported detox reduces the risk of seizures and other related potentially harmful health conditions.

The Glutamate System

Alcohol withdrawal is one of the most dangerous types of withdrawal from any drug known to man. There is not only a risk of death but also brain damage which is due in large part to alcohol withdrawal seizures. These seizures are indicative of an extreme neurotransmitter balance due to withdrawal and can be a warning of further complications later in the detox process. For example, researchers still must clarify the exact molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for the varied manifestations of withdrawal. Other studies should address the clinical significance of kindling and the risk factors for more severe withdrawal (Fiellin et al. 1998).

• Third, in one clinical study, alcohol was inferior to the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide.
• Meanwhile, the brain is producing more and more neurotransmitters, making a person further imbalanced.
• Your doctor’s treatment goal is helping you stop drinking as quickly and safely as possible.
• Alcohol itself does not normally cause seizures, but during withdrawal, when the suppressive activity of alcohol is removed, your brain will be more susceptible to seizures than it normally would.
• Symptoms are generally mild during the first 12–24 hours of withdrawal but increase in intensity around the third day without alcohol.

Along with alcohol’s other effects on your heart, you could experience dangerous heart-related symptoms, such as stroke or cardiac arrest. Finally, somewhere between 9-25% of new cases of status epilepticus are a direct result of alcohol withdrawal seizures. Preventative steps may be taken if a seizure is anticipated, as preventing a seizure from occurring will eliminate the possibility of a status epilepticus event. This was much higher (37%) in the ’70s before effective treatment options and medications for alcohol withdrawal were widely available. Some of the greatest risks are due to heart problems, as the wild fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate wreak havoc in the cardiovascular system.

Treatment

Despite this current understanding of the mechanisms underlying AW syndrome, some controversies still exist regarding the risk, complications, and clinical management of withdrawal. These controversies likely arise from the varied clinical manifestations of the syndrome in alcoholic patients and from the diverse settings in which these patients are encountered. For example, some alcoholic patients who cut down or stop drinking may experience no withdrawal symptoms, whereas others experience severe manifestations.

• Similarly, carbamazepine and the barbiturate phenobarbital probably can prevent AW seizures, although insufficient data exist in humans to confirm this hypothesis.
• As we’ve now explored in depth, alcohol detox is considered a medical emergency and requires clinical supervision.
• Hybrid treatment programs provide the structure of a residential program while allowing the client to return home in the evening only to sleep.

If you’re otherwise healthy and can stop drinking and get treatment, the outlook is usually good. However, sleep disturbances, irritability, and fatigue may continue for months. If your home environment is not supportive for staying sober, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may be able to connect you with shelter programs for people recovering from alcohol addiction. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous center.

Delirium Tremens

Females can be more susceptible than males to many of the negative consequences of alcohol use, such as nerve damage, as they may begin to see effects from a lower amount of alcohol consumption. Alcohol-related neurologic disease refers to a range of conditions caused by alcohol intake that affect the nerves and nervous system. Neurologic disorders can include fetal alcohol syndrome, dementia, and alcoholic neuropathy.

Although everyone’s experience withdrawing from alcohol may differ, detoxing from any sort of substance is best done with the help of a medical team. To put it simply, imagine spinning a wheel as fast as possible in one direction, then suddenly trying to spin it in a different direction. This is a basic way to think of what happens to the mind when a long-term drinker is suddenly cut off from alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms, in general, can be terrifying if you want to quit drinking.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS)

Enrolling in a treatment program that includes a supervised medical detox is the best way to avoid alcohol withdrawal-induced seizures. Treatment options are available for people who struggle with mild to severe alcohol dependence and addiction. An addiction specialist can determine the type of alcohol abuse treatment program that is most compatible with a client’s health needs and lifestyle. About 3% of people who experience withdrawal seizures will have a severe form of seizure known as status epilepticus.

With alcohol out of the equation, though, these chemicals cause withdrawal symptoms. Seizure medicines can lower your tolerance for alcohol, so the immediate effects of alcohol consumption are greater. Rapid intoxication is a big problem because many of the side effects of these medicines are similar to the acute effects of alcohol itself. If you are sensitive to alcohol or seizure medicines, you may find the combination even worse. It is possible for chronic alcohol consumption to cause seizures in people without a history of seizures. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that acts to intensify nerve signals in the brain.