Drug withdrawal symptoms can often be quite painful, but they typically donโt pose a life-threatening risk. Delirium tremens is an exception to this general rule.
Are you or a loved one struggling with alcohol addiction? Our team is available now to answer your questions, discuss treatment options, and verify your insurance. Take the first step toward healingโcall us today to get started.
What Is Delirium Tremens?
Delirium tremens โ which is also known as alcohol withdrawal delirium or the DTs โ is a set of especially distressing and potentially dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms.ย
When a person with alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) abruptly stops drinking or significantly reduces their alcohol intake, their body may respond with a variety of physical and psychological symptoms.ย
The clinical term for this experience is alcohol withdrawal syndrome. In cases of mild or moderate alcohol withdrawal:
- The first symptoms usually appear within 12-24 hours after the personโs last drink.ย
- Common symptoms include headache, nausea, anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Some people may also develop heart palpitations, hallucinations, shaking, and seizures.
- Symptoms commonly peak around 72 hours (three days) after their onset, then gradually subside over the next few days.ย
- After about five to seven days, most symptoms will have dissipated, though some (such as anxiety and cravings) may persist for a longer period.ย
In severe cases, people who go through delirium tremens develop much more dangerous symptoms that usually begin around 48-72 hours after they stopped drinking.
What Causes the DTs?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 28.9 million Americans ages 12 and above meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. This makes alcoholism the most common type of addiction in the U.S.
Experts estimate that about 50% of people who are addicted to alcohol will develop withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking, and about 3%-5% will have the DTs.
Thereโs no single cause that guarantees someone will go through the DTs. Instead, researchers have identified several factors that can influence a personโs risk of delirium tremens, such as:
- History of heavy alcohol abuse over an extended period of time
- Gender (the DTs are more common among men than women)
- Age (most people who have delirium tremens are age 30 or above)
- Having previously gone through alcohol withdrawal
- Having previously developed the DTsย
- History of alcohol-induced psychosis
- History of seizures
- Presence of certain medical or mental health conditions
- Co-occurring addiction to another drug
Symptoms of Delirium Tremens
As noted earlier in todayโs post, symptoms of delirium tremens usually donโt appear until 48-72 hours after a person has stopped drinking. Once they begin, they can include:
- Profound confusion or disorientation
- Agitation and aggression
- Hallucinations (visual, auditory, and/or tactile)
- Paranoia
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Excessive perspiration (diaphoresis)
- Racing heart rate (tachycardia)
- Elevated body temperature (hyperthermia)
- Extreme tics and tremors
- Seizure
Risks of the DTs
The impact of the DTs can include heart problems, injuries due to agitation and disorientation, damage from seizures, adverse reactions to medication, and increased likelihood of going through the experience again if the individual relapses.ย
The greatest risk of delirium tremens is death.
Experts from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University (SUNY Upstate) have reported that, without proper treatment, the DTs would have an anticipated fatality rate of 37%. Thankfully, with increased access to proper care, this rate has dropped to below 5%.
Treatment Options
The risk of serious complications underscores the importance of getting proper care from qualified professionals when attempting to withdraw from alcohol. An ideal way to do this is to enroll in a detoxification, or detox, program.
Detox is a short-term option for people who have been prevented from ending their use of alcohol or other addictive drugs due to severe or dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Timely treatment is essential for someone who has developed the DTs. If you try to go through withdrawal at home on your own, even if you recognize that you are having delirium tremens symptoms, it may be too late to get the help you need.
When youโre in detox, you will be in a safe place under the close supervision of a team of experts. These caregivers can identify the onset of DT symptoms and immediately begin to treat them. Depending on your unique needs, treatment for the DTs may involve:
- Benzodiazepines or other appropriate prescription medications can slow activity throughout your central nervous system.ย Chronic alcohol abuse disrupts your bodyโs production of essential neurotransmitters, or chemicals that deliver messages between your brain and other parts of your body. When you suddenly stop drinking, the absence of alcohol can quickly lead to chemical imbalances that can have catastrophic effects. Benzos can counteract this effect.
- In extreme cases, if benzos or other meds canโt address this issue, you may need to be place under general anesthesia. Having a qualified professional who can make this assessment and ensure that you receive this type of treatment can make a literal life-or-death difference.
- Intravenous (IV) infusions can prevent dehydration and rectify deficiencies is certain vitamins and/or minerals. Failing to properly respond to these types of concerns can increase your risk of seizures, and may also inflict damage on your brain and kidneys.
- Therapeutic and/or medical support for co-occurring mental, neurological, or physical concerns that are exacerbated by your withdrawal symptoms.
Once you have safely completed alcohol withdrawal, you can then transition directly into a residential or outpatient program to continue your treatment. These levels of care can help you develop a solid foundation for long-term recovery from alcohol addiction.ย
Depending on your specific needs, the benefits of residential and/or outpatient treatment can include:
- Learning to manage cravings or other persistent withdrawal symptoms
- Gaining valuable information about the disease of addiction and the process of recovery
- Improving your stress management, conflict resolution, and problem solving skills, which can help you resist relapse and protect your recovery.
- Getting help for anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
- Connecting with peer groups and other community-based resources that can support your continued recovery efforts.
Learn More About Treatment for Delirium Tremens in Georgia
Serenity Grove offers a full continuum of customized care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol. We also offer dual diagnosis services for those who have co-occurring mental health conditions.
Your options at our alcohol rehab center in Athens, Georgia, include detox, residential care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). Our team will work closely with you to assess the full scope of your needs, then determine which programs, therapies, and support services can best help you achieve long-term recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
