What is Delirium Tremens: A Complete Overview
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a disastrous effect on a person’s health, career, and social relationships. However, if one tries to abstain from consuming substances, they experience intense cravings, causing them to relapse. People suffering from severe alcohol withdrawal experience unpleasant symptoms. They make it more challenging for them to battle their addiction. In this guide, we will explore the main signs of delirium tremens (DT) and consider how people can deal with its effects.
Understanding What is Delirium Tremens
Alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD) is a dangerous condition experienced by individuals with AUD who stop drinking abruptly. It results in an increased activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and might cause irregular heart rate or issues with breathing. According to the statistical data, about 29% of adult people in the U.S. have experienced AUD at some point in their lives. 1%-1.5% of them had DT. Learning more about this condition is a prerequisite to finding a possible remedy and discovering the most efficient rehab programs.
Take back control of your life and start on the road to recovery now.
The Main Symptoms of Delirium Tremens
AUD has many life-threatening complications, including DT and liver disease. People with alcohol addiction often tend to disregard the first signs showing that their health has suffered due to their dependence on spirits. They believe they can stop drinking when they decide to. However, when they start practicing sobriety, they notice such symptoms:
- Tremors. Most people understand they have DT when their hands start shaking.
- Confusion. A person might have an altered mental state, causing delirium.
- Extreme anxiety and agitation. Such a state often leads to aggressive behavior.
- Psychosis. Individuals experience alcohol withdrawal hallucinations, or some forms of paranoia.
- Disorientation. Patients with DT have limited awareness of their surroundings as their senses do not work as they are supposed to.
- Heavy sweating. Some individuals start experiencing diaphoresis at times. Such symptoms do not last long but cause serious discomfort.
- Seizures. These manifest before withdrawal becomes an advanced stage of DTs. Seizures result in negative health outcomes if they lead to epilepticus.
- Increased body temperature. Hyperthermia is associated with sweating.
Besides, many patients complain about headaches, nausea, and tachycardia. Instead of disregarding these symptoms, it’s crucial to understand what made them possible.
Delirium Tremens Risk Factors
If you analyze multiple cases of DT, you will inevitably notice one thing. Most of the complications occur when one stops drinking suddenly. People who take any medication to slow down the CNS may also start suffering from delirium tremens. The signs manifest during the first three days of abstinence and become more intense on the fourth and fifth days. The likelihood of having DT increases if one has been drinking for a long period. Other factors play a significant role as well:
- A history of AWD;
- Age (older than 30 years);
- Concurrent health issues;
- Several instances of abstaining from spirits after heavy alcohol consumption;
- Seizure disorder or brain damage.
A long-term drinker is a term describing men who drink 15 shots and women who have 8 drinks a week. One drink might refer to 1.5 ounces of liquor or whiskey, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.
The first withdrawal signs manifest between six hours and a day after the last drink. However, sometimes, they appear early, in 2 hours or so. Anxiety, nausea, loss of appetite, sweating, and insomnia are typical of the early stage of AWD. Hallucinations start between 12 and 24 hours. They may last up to 48 hours. A person may feel intense itching or numbness, hear things, or see strange things. The third stage, between 24 and 48 hours, is when seizures start. Between 48 and 72 hours, the symptoms peak. Then, they gradually decrease.
Delirium Tremens Complications
At first, a person barely perceives trembling hands. However, the condition quickly escalates and becomes more severe. The adverse effects include:
- Lack of essential nutrients and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome associated with B1 deficiency
- Seizures
- Heart complications
- Disrupted sleep patterns
- Depression
These conditions amplify the negative effects of DT, making it even more difficult for a person to restore their health after heavy alcohol use.
How is Delirium Tremens Diagnosed?
Healthcare professionals conduct a physical and neurological examination to decide whether one has delirium tremens. They use special scales like CIWA-Ar to understand whether the symptoms a person complains about might be a sign of DT.
Specialists also perform toxicology screen tests to analyze issues with organ function, assess the ethanol concentration in blood, and discover traces of drugs in urine. Blood and urine samples allow doctors to analyze whether the liver, kidneys, and heart function well. Healthcare providers may also recommend other tests if a patient has other health issues.
How to Treat Delirium Tremens
One should make an appointment with a doctor to learn what medication to take to deal with specific symptoms. While it might be impossible to remove them completely, some drugs minimize their harmful effects. Intravenous fluids are a standard part of every patient care program. They allow doctors to address severe dehydration problems and electrolyte and nutritional deficiencies.
When a patient starts having seizures, anticonvulsants are prescribed to stop them. Besides, they can be used as a preventive measure. Those who are anxious or experience extreme agitation benefit from common sedatives like benzodiazepines. Antipsychotic drugs are necessary at the stage when hallucinations occur. If an individual has a high temperature, they may take special medication to reduce it.
The first stage after an initial consultation with a doctor typically involves medication treatment. Many providers recommend that patients stay at a hospital. It ensures that their vital signs will be professionally monitored all the time. Besides, it allows doctors to deal with complications when they occur. In most cases, the duration of a hospital stay is about one week.
For people with AUD, rehabilitation is a lifelong process with many obstacles on the way. A failure to treat AWD can result in the most unfavorable outcomes. As patients with delirium tremens are often confused and cannot make the right decisions quickly, their loved ones should support them on their journey toward recovery. They should ensure a patient gets emergency medical help if they start experiencing AWD. Prompt actions improve a patient’s chances of achieving full recovery.
Many issues are caused by increased activity of the CNS. Health professionals know how to reduce its activity by taking different types of medications. These drugs have demonstrated their high efficiency in DT treatment programs. DT treatment also requires addressing the issues caused by other conditions related to substance use disorder.
Many outpatient care programs involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions. During the recovery stage, individuals may find it useful to visit a psychotherapist trained in such techniques. Such professionals will help them adjust their behaviors and learn effective coping mechanisms.
How to Prevent Delirium Tremens?
The only sure way to avoid AWD is to avoid drinking completely or control your drinking habits all the time. Many people resort to substance abuse due to the pressure of their peers, depression, or the desire to cope with stress and other psychological problems. One should take care of their mental health and stop being a part of the communities where drinking is a part of everyday culture to avoid delirium tremens.
While AWD may run in families, it does not necessarily mean one won’t be able to prevent the condition. Males, college-age individuals, and those who have experienced trauma are more susceptible to this state. They should take special care to avoid consuming too much alcohol. It’s better to make doctor appointments regularly.
People with psychiatric, personality, and mood disorders should take the prescribed medication and remain under the supervision of certified health professionals to ensure there won’t be any complications.
This can be a difficult journey, but you don’t have to go it alone. Let us be your guide and provide you the environment needed to regain control of your life and begin the path to recovery.
Moving Toward Recovery
Those who want to get their life back on track should talk to their doctors and choose the most effective medication treatment options. Besides, they should go through rehab programs to achieve sustainable progress. Staying in a secure environment is necessary to avoid resorting to dangerous habits. Unfortunately, not everyone has a supportive family. This is why it’s crucial to find a group of similarly-minded individuals who share your goals and aspirations. Peer support groups can be invaluable on the way to recovery. Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) help those who want to stay sober and want to learn how to deal with possible complications and relapses.
Eco Sober Houses provides services to clients who are looking for a safe place to stay after completing AUD and delirium tremens treatment. Clean facilities and predictable routines aid people calm down and restore their health without any distractions. Clients are expected to pay their share of rent, perform chores together with other members, and participate in group counseling sessions. It allows them to adjust to independent life and learn how to overcome their addiction with the assistance of peers. If you want to take control of your life, get in touch with our managers and discover how to embrace new healthy habits.
About Author
