Alcohol abstinence syndrome develops when a person - who has been drinking alcohol regularly and in large amounts - suddenly stops consuming it or drastically reduces the amount taken. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be disruptive and harmless, but can even be life-threatening. So when is alcohol abstinence syndrome most dangerous? What is the treatment for people who develop alcohol abstinence syndrome?

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome(abbreviated AZA, oralcohol withdrawal syndrome ) is one of the possible consequences of alcohol abuse, especially chronic alcohol use. This problem is associated with a sudden complete cessation of alcohol consumption or a significant reduction in the amount of alcohol consumption. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome may develop in different people at different times - it typically appears within 24-48 hours after stopping alcohol consumption, but it is possible to develop alcohol withdrawal syndrome within a few (even two) hours after drinking the last drink .

In theory, alcohol abstinence syndrome can occur in anyone who abuses alcohol. However, the longer a person consumes excessive amounts of alcohol and the greater the amount of this fluid they ingest, the greater the risk of alcohol abstinence syndrome increases.

Causes of Alcohol Abstinence Syndrome

What happens to people who consume alcohol is probably known to everyone. A moderate amount of alcohol can lead to a state of bliss and relaxation in the drinker, as well as make the drinker playful and improve the mood. Alcohol has these effects because it directly affects brain function. The human body, which regularly (and in large amounts) drinks alcohol, develops a tolerance to this compound, so in order for the previously observed effects of alcohol consumption to occur, such a person simply has to consume more and more alcohol.

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that also affects the neurotransmitter systems in the nervous system. Regularly introduced into the body makes it occurreduced synthesis of many neurotransmitters, including dopamine. For this reason, after a sharp cessation of alcoholic drinking, there is a sudden increase in the number of neurotransmitters in the nervous system, which makes patients develop various symptoms of withdrawal syndrome.

Alcohol Abstinence Syndrome: Symptoms

Due to the ailments experienced by patients, two forms of alcohol abstinence syndrome are distinguished. The milder one is called uncomplicated alcohol abstinence syndrome. When a patient develops a seizure related to alcohol withdrawal or when the addict develops a tremor (delirium tremens, white alcoholic fever), a complicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome is diagnosed. form of this problem - there may be complaints of varying severity. Patients who suddenly stop drinking alcohol or significantly reduce their fluid intake may experience:

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome lasts from several hours (more often) to several days (less often).

  • tremors (typically hands, but patients may also tremble e.g. tongue or eyelids);
  • irritation;
  • feeling unwell, general feeling of breakdown;
  • sleep disorders (mainly in the form of insomnia);
  • symptoms related to the stimulation of the autonomic system (such as an increase in blood pressure, tachycardia or a significant increase in sweating);
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • headaches.

The above-mentioned symptoms of AZA can certainly be unpleasant and burdensome for patients, however, their occurrence does not pose a threat to the patients' life, and what is more, these symptoms disappear spontaneously within several hours, up to a few days (of course, this happens under the condition that the patient abstains from alcohol).

A much wider range of disorders can be observed in people who develop complicated alcohol abstinence syndromes. There is a risk of injury associated with convulsions caused by withdrawal from alcohol - a patient in a seizure may, for example, break his head during such a seizure. On the other hand, in the case of an even more severe problem related to the withdrawal syndrome, i.e. during tremorous delirium, patients may experience the aforementioned symptoms of uncomplicated withdrawal syndrome - typically, however, these symptoms become much more intense during delirium tremens. Characteristic for this unit is howeverit is also associated with other serious problems, such as e.g. significant psychomotor agitation, altered circadian rhythm (the patient is overactive at night and rests during the day), as well as confusion and the occurrence of productive symptoms (such as delusions or hallucinations) ).

Other disorders can also be associated with alcohol abstinence syndromes. In the period immediately after stopping alcohol, patients may experience the effects of chronic alcohol abuse in the form of the so-called alcoholic psychoses, which include, for example, alcoholic hallucinosis and Korsakoff's psychosis.

Treatment of alcohol abstinence syndrome

In the case of uncomplicated alcohol abstinence syndrome, it is generally not necessary to treat the condition at all. If your symptoms are not severe, it may be enough to just rehydrate your body and wait for the withdrawal symptoms to subside.

It should be emphasized, however, that an uncomplicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome can definitely develop into a complicated one, and then it becomes necessary to seek medical attention. Dramatic delirium requires hospitalization because this condition can lead to many serious risks, including serious arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Patients who develop delirium tremens are closely monitored. The choice of medications administered to such patients depends on the conditions that predominate in them. Drugs from the benzodiazepine group are the standard use in patients with tremor delirium. It is also beneficial to administer supplementation doses of vitamin B1 to patients, and if the productive symptoms are clearly outlined in patients, then antipsychotics may be used.

Worth knowing

Should the risk of alcohol abstinence syndrome discourage alcohol withdrawal?

There is only one answer to the above question - definitely not. The most dangerous form of AZA, or trembling delirium, is also the rarest one. Moreover, it is always worth fighting with alcohol addiction, as the effects of chronic alcohol abuse can basically affect every organ of the body and can be really deplorable.

People who undertake the fight against alcoholism can benefit from meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous, and they can be treated in institutions specializing in the treatment of alcoholism. The latter option is especially recommended for people who have been abusing alcohol for many years and who are expected to experience difficulties with alcohol.fight addiction. However, treatment in specialized institutions can also benefit those people who are afraid of alcohol abstinence syndrome - in such places, even if the problem would arise for the patient, it would be possible to quickly provide him with any necessary help.

About the authorBow. Tomasz NęckiA graduate of the medical faculty at the Medical University of Poznań. An admirer of the Polish sea (most willingly strolling along its shores with headphones in his ears), cats and books. In working with patients, he focuses on always listening to them and spending as much time as they need.

Category:

Psychology