You may have heard people speak of getting ‘the shakes’ during alcohol withdrawal. Some may even mention the words ‘delirium tremens.’ If you are trying to stop drinking, getting something called the shakes may not seem so bad, so you likely think that delirium tremens is not too bad either.
The first problem with this type of thinking is that alcohol shakes and delirium tremens (DTs) are not remotely the same thing. If you experience alcohol shakes, your hands and fingers shake uncontrollably. It is often a mild presentation of alcohol withdrawal and can cause some pain and discomfort.
Delirium tremens, on the other hand, is a severe symptom of alcohol withdrawal. It often accompanies confusion, agitation, and visual or auditory hallucinations. If you do not receive treatment for DTs, you may suffer seizures, which can lead to death.
Hidden Dangers of DTs
There are also several hidden dangers of delirium tremens. These include the following.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) is one of the most concerning threats to anyone going through alcohol withdrawal. This syndrome is a neurological disorder that results from a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. Vitamin B1 is essential for nerve function.
So, when you consume large quantities of alcohol over a period, it interferes with your body’s ability to absorb much-needed thiamine. Withdrawal symptoms experienced and exacerbated by DTs can worsen this deficiency.
WKS manifests in two different ways. Wernicke’s encephalopathy is an acute phase of the syndrome that comes with several symptoms. These include involuntary eye movements, uncoordinated body movements, and confusion. If you go through alcohol withdrawal and experience delirium tremens, it may be more difficult to recognize the signs of Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
WKS also has a chronic phase. You will experience severe memory impairment during this phase, especially when forming new memories. Those who suffer from the chronic phase, Korsakoff’s syndrome, often make up stories or exaggerate things they do remember to fill gaps.
It is important to note that some of the damage done by WKS can be reversed if the manifestation is caught early. Prompt treatment with thiamine supplements can make a difference in this scenario. However, if WKS is left untreated, it can lead to permanent cognitive decline and a severely diminished quality of life.
Aspiration Pneumonitis
It is not often mentioned, but aspiration pneumonitis is another hidden danger when delirium tremens is present.
Aspiration pneumonitis is a dangerous lung inflammation caused by inhaling food, liquid, or vomit. This condition is a threat during both alcohol consumption and withdrawal. When you drink a lot, your central nervous system is dampened, affecting your swallowing reflex.
Your swallowing reflex keeps food from being aspirated into your airways when you eat. When this reflex does not work properly, the risk of aspirating food and liquid increases.
Furthermore, if you experience DTs, you will likely also suffer confusion, disorientation, and hallucinations. This means your level of consciousness is further impaired and will also impact your ability to swallow food and drink safely.
Also, if you suffer seizures along with DTs, you could involuntarily aspirate vomit or saliva.
The consequences of aspiration pneumonitis include severe infection and inflammation. This could lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, making it hard to breathe.
If you are planning to quit drinking alcohol, it is important to have medical assistance on standby to prevent aspiration pneumonitis. While it is possible to recover from this condition, prevention is always better than cure.
Electrolyte Imbalances
Delirium tremens can also wreak havoc on the electrolytes in your body. Electrolytes are critical in bodily functions, including muscle contraction and nerve transmission. They also help you maintain a healthy fluid balance.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol interferes with this balance, and when you go through withdrawal, it makes the problem worse.
If your withdrawal symptoms include DTs, your body will go into a state of hyperactivity. You may experience hypokalaemia (low potassium), hypomagnesemia (low magnesium), or hyponatremia (low sodium).
When your potassium levels are too low, you may become extremely tired, experience muscle weakness, and have an irregular heartbeat. Low magnesium levels can worsen alcohol withdrawal anxiety and even contribute to seizures. Too low levels of sodium can cause severe confusion, vomiting, and headaches. If the sodium imbalance in your body is severe, you may go into a coma.
Untreated electrolyte imbalances can exacerbate heart failure and cause difficulty breathing and death. Fortunately, correcting your electrolyte levels with medication and other treatments during DTs is possible.
Creating an Action Plan for Alcohol Withdrawal
Considering all the things that could go wrong during alcohol withdrawal, it is easy to see why an action plan is necessary. Your action plan should include worst-case scenarios.
For instance, even though delirium tremens does not happen to everyone going through withdrawal, you must prepare for the possibility that it will happen to you. Being prepared for different situations is the best way to approach and navigate alcohol withdrawal.
Asking for help from a professional institution or hospital is crucial. Your doctor or a rehab facility specialist can help you develop an action plan. This may include tapering alcohol intake to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal.
Your specific action plan will be tailored to your requirements and needs. It should also include steps on how to prevent dehydration and overcome milder symptoms like agitation and alcohol shakes.
Delirium tremens is a serious alcohol withdrawal symptom that requires immediate medical treatment. Your loved ones should be educated on the signs of DTs so they can get you medical help quickly when needed.
HARP Can Get You Through the Withdrawal Process
Excessive alcohol consumption is already terrible for your health. There is no need to risk severe health conditions by trying to get through withdrawal on your own.
HARP has the facilities and qualified staff to help and guide you through this tough process. At HARP, you will receive holistic treatment and support to ensure you stay safe while going through withdrawal. You will also have an after-care plan to keep you sober.
HARP provides an action plan for the worst alcohol withdrawal symptoms and prepares you for the actual withdrawal and life after it.
