The alcohol withdrawal timeline typically starts a few hours after an alcoholic abruptly stops or significantly reduces his alcohol intake. Symptoms start mild and peak around 48 to 72 hours after the person’s last drink. These symptoms often last a few days, but some persist for weeks or months.
The manifestations of alcohol withdrawal vary in severity. It ranges from mild, like headaches, to life-threatening, like Delirium tremens (DTs). DTs affect around 5% of individuals going through alcohol withdrawal. If left untreated, this condition has a mortality rate of approximately 37%. Prompt and appropriate treatment is necessary to increase the survival rate to 95%.
This article will discuss the alcohol withdrawal timeline and when you must seek professional help.
Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline
Knowing the alcohol withdrawal timeline can help you prepare for what’s coming your way. However, note that this timeline is not exact and varies from person to person. Various factors, like the duration of alcohol abuse, influence what and when symptoms appear. Nonetheless, a general alcohol withdrawal timeline may look something like this:
6 to 12 Hours after the Last Drink
Relatively mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually develop sometime in the first six to 12 hours after a person’s last drink. They can include headaches, nausea, and anxiety. Mild to moderate initial alcohol withdrawal symptoms might be bearable, albeit uncomfortable.
But remember that this is just the start of withdrawal. For chronic or heavy drinkers, withdrawal doesn’t get any easier. If, for any reason, you did not consult a medical professional before stopping drinking, get professional help with the onset of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Go to your doctor even if you think you’ll be fine. Prioritize your safety.
12 to 48 Hours after the Last Drink
Things are about to get worse 12 hours after your last drink. Night sweats, nightmares, and difficulty sleeping may begin during this alcohol withdrawal timeline. It’s also common to experience brain fog, headaches, and mood swings. Some alcoholics develop severe anxiety and fall into depression. A medical professional can help manage these symptoms.
Alcohol hallucinosis also begins within this time frame. You may start seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there. Despite hallucinating, the affected individual is still at grips with reality. Nonetheless, get in touch with a medical professional immediately if you experience hallucinations. This symptom could signal an onset of delirium tremens.
Seek medical help, too, if you experience seizures, as it may also indicate progression to DTs. Further, a person may fall and hit their head when they have a seizure, causing a serious head injury. If the seizure lasts for over five minutes, it can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.
Between 48 to 72 Hours
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically peak between 24 to 72 hours after your last drink. It’s common to experience severe nausea, vomiting, and agitation. Hallucinations and other psychiatric symptoms may persist to this point.
This period is also when an alcoholic is at risk of serious seizures. Over 90% of acute symptomatic seizures occur within 48 hours of cessation of prolonged alcohol consumption. Acute seizures are among the worst symptoms you should watch out for within the alcohol withdrawal timeline. At this point, you may already lose consciousness.
Individuals experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms must be in a medical facility during this stage.
As mentioned, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks and even months. During this time, many things can go wrong. For your safety, consider staying in a facility that can also treat your addiction.
Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Withdrawal: Why Get Professional Help?
Some alcoholics take withdrawal lightly despite knowing its dangers. They quit alcohol cold-turkey without any professional support. But we strongly suggest not doing so, especially after drinking for a long time. Untreated severe alcohol withdrawal can put you in a hospital or, worse, in a morgue.
Even if you don’t end up in the worst-case scenario, the shaking, anxiety, and other symptoms can leave you feeling like you’re going to die. The entire withdrawal experience can be traumatizing. The duration, which lasts for weeks, even makes the struggle worse.
Some alcoholics drink to feel normal again. This leads to a relapse, causing some who want to break free from addiction to feel guilty and hopeless. Others drink once the symptoms subside because they feel a bit better.
Unfortunately, continuous alcohol consumption also has adverse effects on your health. Long-term side effects include liver disease and a weaker immune system. Alcohol addiction also negatively affects family and friend relationships. Heavy drinking is one of the common reasons for divorce.
And once you try to stop drinking, you’ll go through withdrawal again. It can be worse the second time.
Getting professional help when you stop drinking can make a huge difference to your withdrawal experience. Either consult your doctor about your plan to stop drinking or go to your trusted alcohol detox. Medical professionals can give you sound advice on how to manage your withdrawal. A detox centre provides support to help alcoholics get through withdrawal safely.
Detox support often includes medicines like benzodiazepines and gabapentin. Note that these medications for alcohol withdrawal management require a prescription. Besides medicines, a detox centre will also care for other alcohol-related health issues. For example, they’ll give you IV fluids if you have an electrolyte imbalance.
Further, detox centres constantly monitor the condition of their patients, especially those at risk of severe withdrawal. This will help prevent symptoms from escalating and becoming fatal, ensuring your safety. Generally, detox centres will help you get mentally and physically stable.
Get Professional Help Today!
Whether you quit alcohol intentionally or unintentionally, Hills & Ranges Private is always ready to lend a hand. Call us, and we’ll connect you with our partner detox centres. And once your withdrawal symptoms are gone, we will help you achieve lasting sobriety.
Worried about your privacy? We got you! At HARP, we ensure a discreet process so no one knows about you getting in touch with us except the people you choose to tell. So please feel free to schedule a confidential call today.
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