Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline: What to Expect

You’ve done it. You’ve taken the time to self-reflect and decided you need to stop drinking alcohol. After following the steps to keep alcohol out of your life, you’re ready to move forward and pursue sober living. Unfortunately, your body isn’t quite ready to move with you.

After cutting back on alcohol, a person will experience the alcohol detoxification process. During this time, they will experience something called alcohol withdrawal, the management of which is extremely important. Depending on the severity of a person’s alcohol use disorder and heaviness of their drinking, they may deal with serious symptoms. Managing alcohol withdrawal helps them to move forward and take control of their life. Read on to understand alcohol withdrawal treatment and the alcohol withdrawal stages.

What is Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal is the term used to describe the collection of physical and mental symptoms a person has after stopping or cutting back on heavy use. When a person drinks a lot of alcohol, their central nervous system adjusts to having it around, keeping their brain more awake and their nerves communicating. When this alcohol is taken away, the brain continues to be overactive, leading to symptoms of withdrawal.

What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Being on edge or irritable
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble staying asleep
• Rapid heart rate
• Higher-than-usual blood pressure
• Shaking
• Increased sweating
• Upset stomach
• Hallucinations, or seeing things that aren’t there
• Seizures 

In addition, a person can experience Delirium tremens (DT), in which someone experiences a change in their brain activity. This can include trouble thinking clearly and focusing, a lack of knowledge about the date or where the person is, and trouble speaking and understanding others. A person with DT may also be quick to anger or violence, unusually slow in their movements or lacking in facial expressions, otherwise acting in unusual ways, and experiencing apathy. DT can be fatal, so recognizing it and getting help is very important. 

What are the Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal?

There are three stages of alcohol withdrawal.

The first stage begins within 6 hours of abstaining with alcohol and can last up to seven days. The symptoms can be uncomfortable but are usually mild, and include nausea, tremors, changes in blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia. 

The second stage begins within the first 48 hours of abstaining from alcohol and can last up to seven days. The relevant symptoms are more serious and can include seizures. 

The third stage of withdrawal also starts within 48 hours of a person’s last drink and can last up to three days, with symptoms lingering up to a week. This stage includes severe symptoms, particularly DT. This can come with hallucinations, rapid mood changes and agitation, fatigue, and bursts of energy. A patient may experience fevers and heavy sweating, as well as seizures. DT usually develops 48 to 72 hours after a person stops drinking.

How Long does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 72 hours after a patient’s last drink. However, some symptoms can last for weeks. For example, it’s actually possible to go through a fourth stage of withdrawal known as postacute withdrawal, or PAWS. This stage can last 6 months to 2 years, and includes trouble sleeping and mood problems. However, for most people with mild to moderate withdrawal, the symptoms usually peak and resolve between 24 to 72 hours after abstaining from alcohol.

What Helps with Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

The thing that helps most with alcohol withdrawal symptoms is treatment, which focuses on reducing symptoms, preventing the complications that come with alcohol use, and helping a patient reduce or stop drinking alcohol. Treatment can take multiple forms: inpatient and outpatient.

In outpatient treatment, a person with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms is treated outside of a typical medical setting. During this process, a patient will make daily visits to their provider and be monitored at home until stable. Outpatient treatment can include blood tests, counseling, and sedatives to ease withdrawal symptoms. A patient will also receive testing and treatment for any other medical problems they have that might be linked to their alcohol use. 

When in outpatient treatment, a patient should make sure they are in a living situation that helps them avoid unhealthy alcohol use. If their home is not safe, they may be able to find sober living options.

In inpatient treatment, a person with moderate-to-severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms is treated at a hospital or other facility. While in outpatient treatment, a patient only needs daily visits in order to recover, in inpatient treatment they will be treated around the clock in order to look for signs of DT. 

Health professionals will monitor their blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and blood levels of chemicals in the body. They will administer fluids or medicines by IV, and may give them sedatives until withdrawal is complete.

Take Back Your Life with SoberMind Recovery

Undergoing alcohol withdrawal treatment is extremely important for a person in the alcohol detoxification process. Each of the alcohol withdrawal stages offers its own challenges to overcome. By seeking treatment in outpatient or inpatient care, a person can get ready to take the steps to live a sober life.
However, not everyone has reached that stage of their recovery journey. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, or with any other substance, SoberMind Recovery can help. Our holistic drug rehab and dual diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles might just be what you need to move on. Visit our website today to verify your insurance and learn more about our San Fernando Valley drug rehab center and our inpatient drug rehab. Our Los Angeles programs might be just what you’re looking for.