What is the Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline?

Alcohol or alcoholic beverage is a type of drink that contains ethanol. These beverages are made up of wines, beers and spirits. Although most of these drinks are legally consumed in many countries, laws are still implemented in the regulation of the production and consumption of these products. Aside from this, an age law is also being followed in consuming alcoholic beverages. Because of this, most nations only allow individuals to have these types of drinks if and only if they are 18 years old and above (some countries allow teenagers as young as 16). This law has something to do with the negative reactions of alcohol in the body when consumed in large doses. Alcohol can even become an addiction to some and can even cause withdrawal symptoms once it is stopped abruptly. So what is the alcohol withdrawal symptoms timeline?

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline

If truth be told, understanding or predicting the alcohol withdrawal symptoms accurately is very hard to do. Nevertheless, there are two main factors that can affect or determine the duration of the symptoms a person has to go through. These factors include how long the individual has been drinking and how much alcohol a person consumes on a regular basis. Aside from these factors, another aspect that needs to be considered is the extent of the person’s chemical dependency to the substance or the beverage. As we all know, our body reacts differently or uniquely from each other; therefore, the symptoms as well as the speed of recovery will vary depending on the situation and the condition of the body of every individual.

Nevertheless, it is the heavy drinkers who have a history of dependency that usually experience the worst types of withdrawal symptoms. There are actually different types of symptoms that can be exhibited from alcohol withdrawal. These symptoms also vary from mild to severe or life threatening. Usually the alcohol withdrawal symptoms timeline begin as soon as an hour or two after the last alcoholic drink was consumed. This can even extend for months or even years. The recovery from these awful symptoms also vary just like what is mentioned earlier; however, in most cases, these symptoms or side effects will tend to lessen as time will pass by. Nevertheless, the amount of time needed for full recovery still depend on the individual.

When a person is considered alcoholic, it is advisable to seek medical attention or trained professionals that are experts in areas like alcohol addiction. In most cases, rehab is recognized the most common and effective solution, especially for those who have spent years of heavy alcohol drinking. Many rehab programs offer different patient counseling for alcohol addiction and can also provide medications that can aid in the reduction of the withdrawal effects of the body. Aside from this, it is also considered beneficial for patients to be around other people who are experiencing the same kind of problem or addiction from alcohol.

However, if a person is not a full blown alcoholic or is considered not a regular heavy drinker, then the alcohol withdrawal timeline is recognized to be shorter and milder. Two of the most common withdrawal side effects are the shaking and the night sweats. Other commonly reported issues include nausea,headaches, increased heart rate and upset stomach. Others can also experience high blood pressure, depression and even anxiety. Unfortunately, even with the presence of these mild symptoms, a person can still continue to crave for a drink. An addiction therapy is also possible in providing the needed tools to cope with the alcohol withdrawal symptoms timeline properly and effectively.

For a more serious type of symptoms, a person can experience different problems such as hallucinations and seizures. These symptoms can also become life threatening if no immediate and proper intervention is provided. Hallucinations will also include seeing and hearing things that are actually not real or inexistent. Aside from visual and auditory hallucinations, some people can also develop problems with their taste and smell. On the other hand, seizures account for most of the alcohol withdrawal deaths. Because of this, it is important to find immediate medical attention once seizures are experienced. This is needed in order to prevent serious complications and injuries in the body. These symptoms can occur at least a few hours to 48 hours after the person begins to quit drinking. This can also last for a week, which can be very hard for some patients to deal. Nevertheless, not all can experience this type of severity when it comes to the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting alcohol drinking is not an easy thing to do for anyone. Alcohol can be so addicting that it can take control of the lives of people and can even cause death. Because of this, it is important for us to become responsible with our habits and to make sure that this kind of vice is not tolerated until it can already cause damage to our system. Aside from the withdrawal symptoms in can produce, heavy and regular alcohol drinking can also cause a lot of problems in our health. So if ever we are having a drink, let us first THINK and be wise and responsible of our actions in order not to pay the harsh consequences in the end.