The term "withdrawal" is usually associated with the state of drug addicts during the period of withdrawal from drugs. However, alcohol withdrawal may not be any weaker. Modern cinema colorfully described in many films this condition among drug addicts. However, in real life, things happen a little differently than in the movies. In the article, we will consider the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. We will also give advice on how to survive this state.
What is withdrawal
Withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism is typical only for people with a stable addiction. If a he althy person drinks a lot of alcohol at a party, then in the morning he will suffer from a headache, he will vomit (the body gets rid of intoxication in this way), and there will be a strong thirst.
Withdrawal, or alcohol withdrawal, is a much more complex and difficult condition. Often a sick person sees only one way to get rid of it - to drink any liquid containing ethanol. However, this is a vicious circle, as alcohol withdrawal will occur again and again. This willbe observed until the patient completely refuses alcohol and enters remission.
What to do if you have withdrawal symptoms
How to survive alcohol withdrawal? This is a difficult question. Much depends on how many days a person drank alcohol, what drinks he used, in what quantity. After binge drinking, hospitalization is necessary, since the risk of developing alcoholic delirium is high. This condition is popularly called "squirrel". It is potentially dangerous for the life of the patient and his loved ones. How to remove alcohol withdrawal on your own? Unfortunately, this is often not possible without qualified help and prescription drugs.
While in a state of delirium, the patient may experience hallucinations and cause bodily harm to his roommates or even passers-by on the street. If there is a risk of psychotic behavior during the period of withdrawal, be sure to consult a narcologist or psychiatrist.
What is the difference between a hangover and withdrawal symptoms
Hangover syndrome is expressed in the following symptoms:
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Pain in the epigastric region (this is most often observed if the patient has previously been diagnosed with diseases of the digestive tract).
- Short-term visual impairment, problems with coordination of movements.
How does alcohol withdrawal provoked by withdrawal syndrome manifest itself? As a rule, a person feels much worse than with a normal hangover. Since the central nervous system always suffers with alcoholism and many neurons die, the symptoms are not only physical, but also psychological.
How to understand that you have alcoholism
The criteria for diagnosis in narcology are very vague, but there is one of them that makes it clear that a person has alcoholism. If a person cannot stop after one glass of beer or wine, then with a high degree of probability it can be argued that he has chronic alcoholism. Many of us have had situations in life when we just wanted to get drunk. Patients with alcoholism are in this state all the time. For them, it is not connected with life's difficulties.
We are accustomed to consider as alcoholics only those people who, because of their vice, have lost their social status. As a rule, they do not have jobs and families. In fact, there are three stages of alcoholism. At first, a person is still a full-fledged member of society. However, he is already familiar with such a thing as alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms will become more painful after each new use. There is only one solution to the problem - a complete rejection of the use of alcoholic beverages.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
The withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism are as follows:
- Sleep problems for about a month after last ethanol intoxication. The patient has nightmares, they suffer from insomnia, their sleep phases are disturbed.
- Since a person does not get enough sleep, he constantly feels tired, hisperformance is declining.
- There are pulling pains and discomfort in the right hypochondrium. This is the reaction of the liver and gallbladder to poisoning.
- Irritability, tearfulness, apathy appear as a result of multiple death of cells of the nervous system due to intoxication. Many patients, against the background of exhaustion of the nervous system and psyche, think about taking their own lives.
- The work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. Pancreatitis may worsen.
- Immunity is reduced, therefore, during the withdrawal period, the risk of contracting viral diseases is high.
How long does alcohol withdrawal last
Standard duration of acute withdrawal pain is about a week. Much depends on the length of time of abuse and the nature of alcoholism, drunken or daily.
In narcology there is also a post-abstinence syndrome. This is a kind of "swing", in its frequency reminiscent of the phase change during MDP. The duration of the post-abstinence syndrome is about a year. Only under the condition of a complete refusal to use ethanol-containing liquids, the patient can count on the restoration of the emotional background, psyche and nervous system.
How to improve sleep during withdrawal
One of the most striking signs of alcohol withdrawal is the inability to sleep. The dream of an alcoholic is sensitive and brief. A person often wakes up in a cold sweat from nightmares.
Drugs that can improve sleep during withdrawal:
- "Phenibut".
- "Fitosedan" (herbal collection).
- "Atarax" (mild tranquilizer).
- "Tenothen" (anxiolytic agent).
- "Teraligen" (another popular anxiolytic).
Most of the drugs on the list can only be purchased with a prescription from a doctor, as they belong to psychotropic drugs.
How to deal with irritability during withdrawal
How to remove alcohol withdrawal at home if a person is very irritable and aggressive? Such well-being and mood after intoxication of the nervous system is observed very often.
People who are far from the problem of alcoholism are sure that it is possible to survive the manifestations of withdrawal without taking drugs. However, the patient himself experiences such an acute psychotic state that in some cases he can even lay hands on himself.
Folk healers advise taking these remedies:
- Infusion of anise seeds. You need to take 1 teaspoon without a hill of dry seeds, pour 200 ml of boiling water, insist and take 50 ml before a meal.
- Infusion of hop cones. You will need to pour 1 teaspoon of chopped raw materials with boiling water (250 ml), leave for at least 60 minutes, strain and take 100 ml before bedtime. Duration of the course - until the disappearance of withdrawal.
- Infusion of St. John's wort. Need 2 tbsp. spoons of dry grass pour 1000 ml of boiling water and leave to cool. Drink 50 ml of the remedy until the signs of withdrawal disappear.
Drugs that doctors prescribe in such situations:
- SSRI antidepressants (sold strictly by prescription). These are Paxil, Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline. You cannot choose an antidepressant on your own. Only a psychiatrist or narcologist can prescribe a medicine. Taking antidepressants gently brings the patient's psyche back to normal. A person becomes calm, irritability, tearfulness disappears, thoughts about the meaninglessness of their existence leave. The main condition for admission is a complete rejection of the use of alcoholic beverages during the course of treatment.
- Taking mild tranquilizers like Atarax. This tool does not affect the production of neurotransmitters, as is the case with antidepressants. Taking tranquilizers can improve sleep, relieve irritability. However, these drugs will not be able to provide a radical change in the mood. Taking tranquilizers is a temporary measure, the purpose of which is to alleviate the symptoms of acute withdrawal.
- Taking herbal infusions with a sedative effect ("Fitosedan") or tablets with plant extracts ("Novopassit"). However, with acute withdrawal or suspected delirium, this group of drugs will not help. If a person has a mild withdrawal syndrome, then it is quite possible to get by with mild sedatives.
Drugs to support the functioning of the liver
You should pay attention to the condition of your liver. This organ is suffering.more than others in the abuse of alcoholic beverages. As a rule, after a binge or a single use of a large amount of alcohol, hepatoprotectors should be taken:
- "Heptral". It preserves the function of the organ during intoxication, has a mild antidepressant effect. Release form - ampoules for intravenous administration and tablets. This is one of the best drugs to take during alcohol withdrawal.
- "Essentiale". Contains phospholipids that support liver cells and help to cope with intoxication. The course of treatment "Essentiale" - at least a month.
- "Karsil". Produced in the form of a dragee. It contains silymarin as the main active ingredient. To restore liver cells, a long-term intake is required - at least a month.
- "Ursosan". Suitable for those patients diagnosed with cholecystitis. The drug facilitates the work of the liver and gallbladder, promotes the outflow of bile.
Sobriety is the best remedy for withdrawal symptoms
The most effective way to treat withdrawal symptoms is to stay sober. With alcoholism, this is not easy. Alas, this disease can be fatal. However, there are cases when people completely get rid of their illness.
If you continue to use alcohol withdrawal will be aggravated.
Expediency of treatment in rehabilitation centers
If a sick person is aware that he no longer controls his drinking,then it makes sense to go to a rehabilitation center. There he is waiting for work with psychologists, psychotherapists, obtaining basic knowledge about his illness.
After staying in such an institution, a person can reconsider his outlook on life, get a good job, start a family.
