When someone suddenly stops drinking, they can quickly experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild to severe. While most people aren’t aware of how much drinking causes withdrawal symptoms, these can worsen over time if people don’t seek help. The most severe symptoms occur within the first 72 hours after the last drink. However, figuring out how much drinking causes withdrawal can be pretty tricky, especially if you’re struggling with alcohol dependence or addiction. A drug and alcohol detox center can help you.
The Difference Between Moderate and Excessive Drinking
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate drinking equals one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Generally, moderate drinking is seen as safe for most people over the age of 21. However, to understand this, you have to beware of what a drink means:
- 12 ounces of beer
- Eight ounces of liquor
- Five ounces of wine
- One and a half ounces of spirits
According to the NIAAA, when women have four or more drinks in 2 hours or men have five or more drinks in the same amount of time, it is considered binge drinking. Binge drinking SAMSHA defines five or more times in the past month as heavy alcohol use. On the other hand, excessive drinking means eight or more drinks a week for women and 15 drinks or more per week for men. It’s important to note that people who binge drinking or drinking excessively might not have an alcohol use disorder or aren’t dependent on alcohol.
How Much Do You Have to Drink to Get Withdrawal Symptoms
Even heavy drinkers that are not alcoholics are likely to experience mild symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly. Most people use alcohol to relax and relieve anxiety. One of the effects of alcohol is to increase the effects of neurotransmitters responsible for creating feelings of euphoria and calmness.
However, heavy drinking makes it harder to increase these neurotransmitters, so people need more and more alcohol to get the same outcome. When someone suddenly stops drinking, they’re no longer impacting these neurotransmitters. However, the body continues to overproduce them. When this happens, people experience withdrawal symptoms.
Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Anyone who stops drinking abruptly will likely experience withdrawal symptoms, even if this is their first excessive drinking episode. Drinking habits, overall wellness, and biology are all factors that influence whether or not an individual experiences withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.
Most symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Shakiness
- Nightmares
- Mood swings
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Faster heart rate
- Appetite loss
Severe withdrawal symptoms include:
- Delirium tremens
- Fever
- Agitation
- Seizures
- Extreme confusion
- Hallucinations
- High blood pressure
Alcohol Withdrawal Outlook
Fortunately, most people experience a full recovery from alcohol withdrawal. In some cases, people might continue to have disruptive symptoms, especially those struggling with post-acute withdrawal. These symptoms include difficulty sleeping, mood swings, fatigue, and anxiety. A tiny percentage of people die from alcohol delirium tremens, particularly those who choose to detox without medical supervision.
Heavy drinking causes organ damage and can lead to health conditions like heart disease and liver disease. These underlying conditions can make the withdrawal process more dangerous for people who choose to go through it alone. Selecting an alcohol treatment facility can help people detox from alcohol in a safe and comfortable environment.
Long- and Short-Term Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol withdrawal treatment options will depend on the severity of symptoms. Those experiencing mild to moderate symptoms might need medical assistance to ensure the process is comfortable. When someone experiences moderate to severe symptoms, these individuals will likely require partial hospitalization. Vital signs will be monitored, fluids will help prevent dehydration, and medications might be used to avoid seizures and other complications.
Alcohol withdrawal treatment options will depend on the severity of symptoms. Those experiencing mild to moderate symptoms might need medical assistance to ensure the process is comfortable. When someone experiences moderate to severe symptoms, these individuals will likely require partial hospitalization. Vital signs will be monitored, fluids will help prevent dehydration, and medications might be used to avoid seizures and other complications.
No matter how mild or severe someone’s symptoms are, the best long-term treatment is to seek addiction treatment. If someone doesn’t stop drinking altogether, especially after going through withdrawal already, they’ll probably never leave the addiction cycle.
Treatment options for alcohol addiction include:
- Medical detox programs with medication-assisted programs
- Intensive outpatient programs
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Group therapy with 12-step meetings (AA meetings)
- Family therapy
- Aftercare recovery programs
Combining these and more treatment programs will help someone fight their battle against alcoholism and hopefully help them walk into a sober life. Sometimes alcoholics might need a dual diagnosis program to address any mental health disorders also present.
Getting Help for Alcohol Abuse at Lighthouse Recovery Institute
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, seek help immediately. While the withdrawal process isn’t as severe and dangerous as other drugs, alcohol abuse is a life-threatening condition. Those who struggle with alcoholism are more likely to suffer certain cancers, experience accidents while under the influence, get in trouble with law enforcement, and suffer irreversible organ damage.
At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our addiction specialists can help you find the right treatment plan to fight your addiction. We believe in offering custom addiction treatment plans to fight your substance abuse problem and help you find long-term sobriety. Contact our admissions office today at 866.308.2090 and speak with one of our specialists to begin your journey into recovery.
