Treatment and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome

In modern medical practice, the incidence of alcohol withdrawal syndrome can hardly be considered a rarity. This condition is associated with a violation of the normal functioning of the body as a result of chronic alcoholism and is accompanied by a number of very dangerous symptoms. In this case, the doctor's help is really needed.

Alcohol abstinence syndrome and hangover: what's the difference?

These two conditions are often accompanied by similar symptoms. Nevertheless, the difference between the causes of alcohol abstinence syndrome and hangover still is, and weighty.

The hangover appears when the body is intoxicated with ethyl alcohol. It is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite and other symptoms that are known to almost every person who at least once went too far with alcoholic beverages.

But, despite the similarity of symptoms, the causes of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are completely different: nausea and deterioration of health do not appear on the background of excess of ethanol, but in connection with its insufficient quantity. Similar seizures are observed only in people with alcohol dependence of the second or third stage.

Causes and Symptoms of Alcoholic Abstinence Syndrome

As already mentioned, this condition develops against a background of chronic alcoholism when the supply of ethyl alcohol to the body stops. Symptoms of it may be different: some alcohol-dependent people complain only of malaise, while other patients enter the hospital with cardiovascular insufficiency or even cerebral edema. In any case, it is worth familiar with the main features:

• As a rule, in the first few days you can notice a general deterioration in well-being. Patients complain of weakness, dizziness, increased fatigue.
• Along with this, there are violations of the digestive tract, in particular nausea, vomiting, deterioration of appetite. In most severe cases, such a malaise can lead to intestinal or gastric bleeding.
• It is also possible tachycardia and problems with coordination of movements, people with addiction can often notice tremor of hands, unsteadiness of gait, and sometimes convulsions.
• The lack of alcohol affects the work of the nervous system, almost all patients complain of insomnia and nightmares.

It is worth noting that often the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome ends with a strong neurosis known in the people as "white fever". In any case, the person with such symptoms is best to be taken to the hospital.

Cessation of alcohol withdrawal syndrome

It should be understood that the symptoms can be suppressed only in those cases when the patient has a mild form of withdrawal syndrome, and the risk of serious damage to the body is minimal. In such cases, patients are injected intravenously with solutions that improve metabolism and promote the rapid elimination of toxins (in this case, metabolites of ethyl alcohol) from the body. In particular, sedatives, as well as vitamins, are used here. Most often after such therapy, the main symptoms are after 5-7 days. Nevertheless, the patient must always be under the supervision of a doctor, since complications can occur quite suddenly.

Treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Patients suffering from hallucinations, severe mental disorders, bleeding, severe vomiting, dehydration, in short, severe and life-threatening symptoms, are immediately hospitalized. Treatment is reduced to normalization of the body. To this end, the same vitamins, beta-blockers, magnesium preparations and other drugs are used to help restore metabolic processes and liver function. It is extremely important and mental health rights. Unfortunately, the treatment of withdrawal symptoms will only provide temporary improvement, if we do not focus our efforts on fighting the main, primary problem - alcohol dependence.