I Have an Alcohol Addiction. Will I Experience Delirium Tremens?

Those who become addicted to alcohol are at risk of experiencing a severe form of withdrawal called delirium tremens if they suddenly were to stop drinking. If you have become an alcoholic and need help putting an end to your substance abuse for good, call 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) now. We will help you find safe, reliable care in the form of professional rehab.

What Is Delirium Tremens?

According to the National Library of Medicine, delirium tremens is “a severe form of alcohol withdrawal” that can be extremely dangerous and even deadly to the individual who experiences it. Those who abuse alcohol consistently and are dependent on it can often have severe reactions when they suddenly stop drinking, and the severest of these is delirium tremens.

Regular alcohol withdrawal can be uncomfortable and even dangerous in some cases, as depression is a common symptom. However, delirium tremens commonly causes potentially deadly symptoms that, as stated by the NLM, can include

Disorientation and fatigue are common symptoms of delirium tremens.

• Body tremors
• Changes in mental function
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Decreased attention span
• Fear
• Excitement
• Delirium
• Deep sleep that lasts for a day or more
• Hallucinations
• Increased activity
• Quick mood changes
• Restlessness
• Sensitivity to light, touch, and sound
• Stupor
• Fatigue
• Seizures

Between the hallucinations that can cause an individual to accidentally harm themselves or others and the seizures that may occur at any time, delirium tremens is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. But how can you know for sure if you are going to experience this dangerous withdrawal syndrome?

Delirium Tremens Is Unpredictable…

Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to predict who is going to experience delirium tremens. Symptoms of the syndrome can begin to occur as early as 48 to 96 hours after the individual takes their last drink, but they can also occur as late as 7 to 10 days after the last drink. This means many individuals might experience regular alcohol withdrawal symptoms for days before suddenly beginning to show signs of delirium tremens.

However, there are some factors that make a person particularly vulnerable to this type of withdrawal syndrome. They include

• Regularly drinking a certain amount of alcohol every day for several months, including
  • 4 to 5 pints of wine
  • 7 to 8 pints of beer
  • 1 pint of hard alcohol
• Having experienced alcohol withdrawal in the past, causing one to have a history with this syndrome
  • If you have gone through regular alcohol withdrawal before, there is a strong chance that you may undergo delirium tremens this time around.
• Having abused alcohol for ten years or longer
• Experiencing a head injury while also being a heavy drinker
  • If you do have a serious head injury and already drink often, there’s a possibility that you may experience delirium tremens

Still, no one can gauge with certainty whether or not an individual suffering from alcoholism will or will not experience this severe withdrawal syndrome. This is why it is so important to seek help immediately for your substance use disorder and to receive professional care while you attempt to stop drinking.

How the Physical Effects of Alcohol Abuse Can Permanently Change Your Body

What Should I Do to Protect Myself Against Delirium Tremens?

According to the NLM, “If you have been drinking a lot, you should cut back or stop drinking only under the care of a doctor.” You can often find safe, beneficial treatment at a rehab center that also provides detox care. When you decide to stop drinking, especially if you are an alcoholic, it is very important to make sure that you do so safely and that you protect yourself from experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.

Your doctor may give you medication in order to treat your withdrawal and ensure that you are able to safely put an end to your drinking. If you do begin to experience the severe effects of delirium tremens, you may need to go to an inpatient facility where you can be sedated and treated safely. But it is extremely important, whether you believe you will experience severe symptoms or not, to undergo alcohol withdrawal and addiction treatment under the care of trained professionals.

How Can I Find Treatment for Alcoholism and Withdrawal?

Call 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) now. We will help you find a rehab center that will suit your needs and allow you to recover safely and effectively from substance abuse. Call today; your future is waiting.