Can You Die From Alcohol Withdrawal? How to Detox Safely

About 5% to 10% of people with this complication die from it. The prognosis (outlook) for someone with alcohol withdrawal depends greatly on its severity. It’s important to be honest about your alcohol use — and any other substance use — so your provider can give you the best care. The death rate for those with delirium tremens is about 5% to 25%, says Divyansu Patel, MD, a psychiatrist with TeleMed2U, a telemedicine practice. If you or someone you know is misusing alcohol, contact a doctor before stopping use. They can assess your condition and advise you on whether you should complete your withdrawal in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Seizures often occur in the early stages of withdrawal, and they may happen in the absence of other AWS. More than 90% of acute seizures occur in the first 48 hours after your last drink. These symptoms usually begin 48 to 72 hours after you stop drinking and most commonly last 5 to 7 days. In some cases, symptoms of DT could show up to 10 days later.

Hallucinations can set in around 24 hours, with the next 24 to 48 hours being the highest risk for seizures and delirium tremens. If your body is dependent on alcohol, it’s likely that you’ll experience some form of withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. Although benzodiazepines are the primary drug treatment for alcohol withdrawal, your doctor may also use other drugs alongside them. This can include drugs like clonidine (Catapres) and haloperidol (Haldol). Alcohol withdrawal exists within the context of long-term alcohol dependence. It occurs when someone with an AUD stops drinking entirely or significantly reduces their alcohol intake.

Alcohol also inhibits the production of an anti-diuretic hormone, so large quantities of alcohol make you urinate a lot and become helping vs enabling dehydrated. These imbalances can eventually lead to acute kidney failure. Similarly, there are physiological changes as a result of long-term alcohol abuse.

The sudden removal of alcohol can cause fatal arrhythmias, where the heartbeat becomes so irregular the heart fails. Alcohol suppresses the production of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells). If you don’t already have a supportive network, you can make new connections by joining social media communities dedicated to alcohol-free living. This process temporarily restores homeostasis, or chemical balance, in an effort to counteract the impact of long-term alcohol use on the brain. You’ll likely need other treatments for related health issues. Alcohol (ethanol) depresses (slows down) your central nervous system (CNS).

1. Sadly, the unpleasant experience of withdrawal – both physical and mental – causes many addicts to relapse to heavy drinking.
2. AWS can evolve in a few hours or a few days but often develops between 6 to 24 hours after your last drink.
3. In people with milder levels of alcohol dependence, these may be the only symptoms they experience.
4. Your body works hard to keep your brain in a more awake state and to keep your nerves talking to one another.
5. This depends on the individual and the results of laboratory tests that their doctor may order.

What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

If your doctor thinks you might be going through alcohol withdrawal, they’ll ask you questions about your drinking history and how recently you stopped. They’ll want to know if you’ve ever gone signs of being roofied through withdrawal before. By Sarah Bence, OTR/LBence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings.

Alcohol withdrawal is a potentially serious complication of alcohol use disorder. It’s important to get medical help even if you have mild symptoms of withdrawal, as it’s difficult to predict in the beginning how much worse the symptoms could get. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can worsen in the days after your last drink, so even if you initially feel okay, it’s best to seek medical attention right away. Here’s what you need to know about why alcohol withdrawal occurs and how medical supervision during detox can help someone recover safely. Depending on your level of alcohol dependency, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can become very serious and even life-threatening. That’s why it’s very important to manage your group activities for substance abuse withdrawal safely.

Withdrawal Symptoms by Substance

But if you’ve gone through alcohol withdrawal once, you’re more likely to go through it again the next time you call it quits. Given these significant health consequences, it’s not surprising that many people who are addicted to the substance, try to quit. However, if it’s not done properly, withdrawal from alcohol can have terrible health consequences of its own, including death. You don’t need to be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder in order to quit drinking. If alcohol is interfering with your health or your personal, financial, or professional life, consider quitting.

Can alcohol withdrawal cause death?

AWS is often accompanied by intense cravings to drink and may affect your emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being. Symptoms of AWS are often treated with sedatives called benzodiazepines. The most prescribed benzodiazepine is chlordiazepoxide, which is only available as a generic in the United States. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.

Mild Symptoms

Behavioral health treatment for alcohol problems is often (but not always) covered by insurance. In the United States, most states have low-cost or free rehabilitation programs for those who are uninsured. Individuals should be prepared to be uncomfortable during this period and have medical help available if needed.