What to Expect From Alcohol Detox
Due to the accessibility of alcohol in our society, drinking problems can affect the lives of many families and individuals. Dependence on alcohol can lead to a wide range of withdrawal symptoms that vary according to the severity of alcohol dependency.
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Severity
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Most researchers, including Dr. Michael Burns, Dr. Maurice Victor and Dr. Sidney Wolfe, divide withdrawal symptoms into categorizes that include: minor, major, rum fits and delirium tremens.
Minor
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According to Dr. Burns, symptoms of minor withdrawal include tremors, nausea, anxiety, insomnia and vomiting. Dr. Victor and Dr. Wolfe add hallucinations to the list and state that these symptoms reach their height of severity 24 hours after the last drink.
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Major
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According to Dr. Burns, symptoms in this stage include hallucinations, profuse sweating, tremors that cover the whole body, and high blood pressure. These symptoms manifest 10 to 72 hours after the last drink.
Rum Fits
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Rum fits are seizures, usually of the grand mal type, that occur during alcohol withdrawal. Dr. Burns describes them as generally brief and he found that 60 percent of alcoholics experience them. Dr. Victor and Dr. Wolfe found that these seizures occurred in 90 percent of their cases and generally appeared 24 hours after the last drink.
Delirium tremens
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This is the most severe withdrawal symptom. According to Dr. Burns only 5 percent of alcoholics experience this symptom. It is characterized by large spasms and nervous system agitation, elevated heartbeat, disorders of sensory perception and, in rare cases, death.
Death
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Dr. Burns reports that, despite treatment, 5 to 15 percent of alcoholics that suffer from delirium tremens die. If treatment is not sought, this number can increase to a 35 percent mortality rate.
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