Do not abstain from alcohol abruptly

Are you addicted to alcohol and are eager to give it up so definitely don't drink any more? Do not keep that kind of will, the hunger for alcohol will make you wretched and you easily "click your tongue" to drink again. It is best to decrease slowly.

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When suddenly stop drinking alcohol, the body of alcoholics appears withdrawal syndrome with signs of trembling, insomnia, anxiety .

Alcohol has slow effects on the brain, is considered a sedative or depression. In long-term addicts, the brain is almost constantly depressed by alcohol. Over time, the brain regulates chemicals to compensate for the consequences of alcohol. It is producing stimulant chemicals such as serotonin or norepinephrine (linked to adrenaline) in larger amounts than usual.

If you give up alcohol suddenly (due to withdrawal), the brain is like a fast-moving car losing its brakes. Most alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur because of excessive brain stimulation. The most dangerous clinical manifestation occurs in 1 out of 20 people who are shivering, at which point the brain no longer regulates the chemicals when the alcohol is stopped. Shivering is a temporary and confusing condition, the brain can no longer control things like circulation, breathing. Survival signs such as heart rate and blood pressure change very suddenly and unpredictably, easily leading to heart failure, stroke and death. So, for the brain to adjust its drinking habits, it takes a long time to help the brain rebalance.

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are very variable, unpredictable after the last drink and not all patients are full:

Shivering: Start about 5-10 hours after the last drink and reach the peak after 24-48 hours. Following shivering is rapid pulse, hypertension, rapid breathing, sweating, nausea, anxiety, restlessness, confusion and insomnia.

Alcoholic hallucinations: This symptom starts 12-24 hours after the last drink, which can last for 2 days. Often people who quit alcohol see countless small, similar and moving objects. Sometimes they realized that there were many insects crawling back and forth or coins falling.

Alcohol withdrawal seizures: Seizures may occur 6 to 48 hours after the last drink and often many seizures occur over several hours. The greatest risk after 24 hours is epilepsy, severe seizures.

Palpitations: Usually occurs 2-3 days after the last drink, it may be later, after 1 week. The peak is usually 4-5 days after the last drink. This condition poses a danger to the patient's breathing, circulation and temperature; may cause the heart to beat very fast, excessive blood pressure or a dangerous dehydration. Shivering also reduces blood flow to the brain, causing vomiting, delirium, disorientation, dullness, narcosis, abnormal anger, irrational beliefs or sweating, sleep disturbance and many illusion.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome usually improves after 5 days, and a small number of patients last for several weeks. If the patient has severe vomiting, convulsions or tremors, it is safest to be hospitalized. For tremors, treatment must be provided in an intensive care unit; patient place. be closely monitored for heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure; sometimes use a breathing machine.

Benzodiazepines can help reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms; commonly used are Valium, Libirum and Ativan. Patients with alcohol withdrawal often lack many vitamins and minerals at the same time, need to supplement. The most missing are folate, thiamine, B12, magnesium, zinc and phosphate. Patients can reduce blood sugar.