Suddenly stopping or drastically reducing your intake of alcohol or drugs can be very challenging, because your mind and body are learning to adjust to living without something you were dependent on for a long time. Withdrawal can lead to physical discomfort as well as life-threatening health conditions. But remember, you were strong before your addiction and can triumph in your recovery. The primary limitation is the high heterogeneity between studies owing to the nebulous nature of PAWS, the lack of a shared consensus definition, the variable durations of symptoms presented as components of PAWS and the small sample sizes of the component studies. Furthermore, there is a lack of standardization of PAWS across studies, and the extent of post-withdrawal abstinence was highly variable.

Social Support and Treatment Programs

While receiving treatment, healthcare providers will want to monitor you continuously to make sure you don’t develop life-threatening complications. Healthcare providers typically prescribe short-term medications to relieve the symptoms of mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal causes a range of symptoms when a person with alcohol use disorder stops or significantly decreases their alcohol intake. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the most severe being life-threatening. Also, consider these risk factors for any patient presenting with seizures of unknown etiology.

1. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome and a hangover have different causes.
2. We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.
3. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms that benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can last weeks to years.
4. Consequently, the notion of PAWS remains highly controversial (Satel et al., 1993).
5. The symptoms of protracted withdrawal can come and go over time depending on triggers.
6. However, the content is solely the authors’ responsibility and does not represent the official views of NIDA, the University of Calgary, the CIHR, or the Calgary Health Trust.

Behavioral Treatment

Depending on how long you have used alcohol and how much you typically drink, the severity of these symptoms can range from mild to severe. Less frequently, people can develop severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. While avoidance of post-acute withdrawal syndrome isn't possible, you can effectively manage your symptoms.

Who Experiences Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Signs of an impending seizure include tremors, increased blood pressure, overactive reflexes, and high temperature and pulse. Having a history of seizures increases your risk for withdrawal seizures. Anyone who is having severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, such as seizures, hallucinations, or prolonged vomiting needs immediate medical treatment. The second stage of detox, called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), happens as the brain re-calibrates after active addiction. Unlike acute withdrawal, post-acute withdrawal symptoms are mostly psychological and emotional symptoms. We did not identify any psychotherapy studies for the treatment of PAWS.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Choose a symptom and answer simple questions using our physician-reviewed Symptom Checker to find a possible diagnosis for your health issue. Heavy alcohol use also depletes the body of vital electrolytes and vitamins, such as folate, magnesium, and thiamine. So, treatment may also include electrolyte corrections and multivitamin fluids. The doctor may ask for evidence that there has been a decrease in alcohol use after regular heavy use. Drastic changes in blood pressure and heart rate can also develop, which may lead to a stroke or heart attack.

We considered randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized intervention studies (e.g., pre–post studies). We excluded commentaries, reviews, editorials, and case reports; we did not restrict the study's data or location. PAWS symptoms include irritability, depression, insomnia, fatigue, restlessness, alcohol cravings, and distractibility. These are most severe in the first 4 to 6 months of abstinence and diminish gradually over several years of sustained abstinence. Sleep disturbance is a common finding among individuals with AUD and during PAWS. Another PAWS study (de Timary et al., 2013) found that alcohol cravings decreased alongside ratings of depressed mood, but only in those with higher self-consciousness, a personality trait characterized by a tendency to think and direct attention to the self.

You can join a support group or sobriety program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. People with severe symptoms remain in the hospital for part or all of the detox process so a doctor can closely monitor their blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate and provide medications to ease the process. When a person is detoxing from alcohol, the symptoms may begin anywhere from 6 hours to a few drug rash and eruption days after their last drink. For those trying to detox from alcohol, it is vital to do so under the supervision of a doctor, as the withdrawal symptoms may be severe. The continued use of alcohol causes changes in the central nervous system and neurotransmitter production in the brain. When the supply of alcohol is suddenly stopped or decreased, withdrawal symptoms can develop.

By learning to successfully manage post-acute and acute withdrawal symptoms, you will feel better physically and emotionally, improve your self-esteem and reduce the risk of relapse. When you stop using a certain substance, you 10 signs that someone you know is using crack regularly might experience withdrawal symptoms for a few days or weeks. Alcohol withdrawal (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) is a range of symptoms that can happen if you stop or significantly reduce alcohol intake after long-term use.

Chronic alcohol use can cause complex changes in their brain, including to the neurotransmitters dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which affect excitement and a person’s sense of reward. Research shows people who have a supportive social network are more likely to remain alcohol-free after withdrawal. Those with barbiturate withdrawal a wider circle of support have a better chance of staying sober. Learn about opportunities to help change the conversation around mental health. You may try positive affirmations, such as, “I am strong.” Or you may also find that getting into your spirituality and who you are as a spiritual person may help you cope.

Dr. Bahji also received financial support from a 2020 Research Grant on the Impact of COVID-19 on Psychiatry by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. Currently, Dr. Bahji has been awarded doctoral studies research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship and the Harley N. Hotchkiss Graduate Scholarship in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary. Furthermore, Dr. Bahji has received research funding through the Calgary Health Trust. However, the content is solely the authors’ responsibility and does not represent the official views of NIDA, the University of Calgary, the CIHR, or the Calgary Health Trust. Keep reading to learn more about PAWS, the causes and risk factors, and how to cope in recovery.