Alcohol shakes or body tremors, also known as alcohol tremors, are a sign of alcohol withdrawal. The portion of your brain that controls your muscles reacts to the alcohol leaving your body and causes some reflex pathways to fire sporadically, resulting in shakes or tremors, that is also known as Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms.
What are the Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
When an individual engages in long-term and heavy alcohol use and suddenly stops drinking, it causes the body to go through withdrawal. Both the body and the brain have become dependent on the frequency of alcohol consumption and drinking habits. When the individual suddenly quits drinking, the body becomes deprived of the effects of the alcohol that it has become accustomed to and needs time to adjust to returning to functioning without it. This adjustment period causes the uncomfortable side effects of alcohol withdrawal, such as sweats, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and shakes.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can not only be unpleasant but can also trigger life-threatening side effects. Individuals can experience alcohol withdrawal syndrome whether they’ve been drinking for weeks, months, or years. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be scary and extremely dangerous to handle by yourself. Don’t take any chances, contact our detox center today and let us help you detox from alcohol safely.
Receiving medically supervised care from a specialized alcohol rehab facility such as Avatar Residential Detox Center is advised for individuals attempting to refrain from drinking, as withdrawal can be fatal.
Can a person die from alcohol withdrawal?
Depending on an individual’s level of alcohol dependency, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can become severe and even life-threatening, which is why it’s essential to manage your withdrawal safely. At-home alcohol detox is never recommended.
Managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be extremely dangerous. The safest route to manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms is to attend an alcohol detox center that provides medical supervision. Clients that require mild to moderate levels of alcohol detox can often receive treatment in an outpatient setting, which requires daily check-ins instead of staying onsite for inpatient treatment. Individuals with more severe symptoms should be treated in an inpatient setting, where their condition can be more closely monitored.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, contact a medical physician before stopping use. They will be able to consult you on whether you should complete your alcohol detox in an inpatient or outpatient environment.
What is it like to have alcohol shakes or delirium tremens from alcohol withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD) is known as the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. The withdrawal causes sudden and extreme problems in your brain and nervous system.
About 50 percent of people who have an alcohol addiction will experience withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly stop drinking. A small percentage of those people will experience AWD symptoms like grand mal seizures and severe confusion.
What is the best method to treat alcohol withdrawal?
The best way to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms is at a facility like Avatar Residential Detox Center in New Jersey, which provides a medically supervised detox.
What is the alcohol withdrawal timeline?
Phase 1: About 6 to 12 hours after the last alcoholic beverage
The first phase of alcohol withdrawal usually occurs about 6 to 12 hours after the individual’s last drink. Minor withdrawal symptoms typically include the following:
Phase 2: About 12 to 24 hours after the last alcoholic beverage
Auditory hallucinations, also known as alcoholic hallucinosis, may begin to occur 12 to 24 hours after the last alcoholic beverage was consumed and might continue up to 48 hours after the last sip. These hallucinations can include:
Phase 3: About 24 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic beverage
Withdrawal seizures usually begin within 24 to 48 hours after consumption of the last drink.
Phase 4: About 48 to 72 hours after the last alcoholic beverage
Alcohol Withdrawal fully sets in 48 to 72 hours after the last drink. Typically most symptoms will be at their worst five days after they begin and will become more manageable about five to seven days after they start.
Alcohol Withdrawal & Alcohol Detox Treatment: How to Quit Safely
Withdrawal from alcohol can be uncomfortable and severe. The side effects of withdrawal and a strong desire for alcohol make it difficult to avoid relapse without professional assistance.
There can be many medical complications when detoxing from alcohol, so a medically supervised detox at an alcohol rehab facility is always recommended.
An individual will attend a medical detox program offered at a specialized facility such as Avatar Residential Detox to safely stop drinking and allow the toxins from alcohol to process out of the body. The client is monitored, and alcohol can be slowly tapered off to keep the system from being shocked by the lack of alcohol instead of quitting cold turkey. Medications, such as benzodiazepines, may be used to replace the alcohol in some cases. Other medications such as sleeping pills, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, gastrointestinal medicines, and nonsteroidal pain medications can also be helpful.
During detox, fluids can be administered to prevent and reverse dehydration, and balanced meals can restore nutritional balance. Medical staff monitors vital signs and conditions of mental health 24 hours a day to ensure the client’s safety during detox. The clinical team also provides encouragement and support throughout the detoxification process—Avatar’s natural and serene environment alongside its specialty therapies aid in relapse prevention. An individual will usually remain in medical detox for about five to seven days; however, the duration of stay will depend on the needs of the individual and how their body responds to the detox.
Our alcohol detox program, medically supervised 24 hours a day, can address the potentially hazardous side effects of alcohol withdrawal and minimize possible complications while helping a person become physically capable and ready to enter a thorough alcohol addiction treatment program directly following departure. Detox is a vital first step to long-term recovery. Still, to prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery, it should be followed by a complete addiction treatment program that includes behavioral therapies, specialty therapies, counseling, support group participation, medications, and complementary therapies.
Get the Help You Need-Today!
Avatar Residential Detox Center offers several addiction treatment programs. Contact our 24-hour helpline at +1 (877)-209-1600 and talk with one of our addiction specialists to learn more about detox and our addiction treatments, mental health options, residential rehab facilities, alcohol addiction center New Jersey, and how to afford addiction treatment. Discover your path to recovery today.
