When Booze Kills – Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Posted by TheAdmin

September 18, 2009

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Withdrawal from alcohol (ethyl-alcohol) is significantly different than withdrawing or detoxing from just about every other drug. The difference? Withdrawal and detox from alcohol, in and of itself, can be fatal. The stereotypical image of a heroin detox (as portrayed in movies and television), leads people to believe that withdrawal from opiates will kill you. I can say without reservation that during the first 72 hours, death would be welcome. (You really do feel that bad.) In your mind, death is actively sought after, pursued and invited. Reality, however, is quite different. It is very, very rare for heroin or opiate withdrawal to be fatal.

When death is attributed to a persons addiction to heroin, cocaine, meth, or most other drugs of abuse, in the majority of cases there were already serious underlying health issues. These issues were simply made worse by an active addiction. But a “relatively healthy” alcoholic, presenting no serious health issues, carries a significant risk of death when withdrawing from alcohol. If not managed diligently and correctly, the direct effects of alcohol withdrawal can be fatal.

And it’s not a quiet, in your sleep type of death. Some organs are rapidly swelling while others do just the opposite, restricting blood flow in both directions. At the same time, body cavities are filling with fluids- a normal, 175-180 pound man can swell to 250, 275, even 300 pounds before a vital organ finally, and mercifully, simply gives up. It is a painful, “ugly” death made even less appealing by the complete evacuation of fluids and solids at the time of death. While the body begins it’s organ shut-down schedule (which can last hours or even days), the mind somehow knows what lies ahead, and opts for an early check-out.

Delerium Tremens (DT’s), alcoholic alzheimers, hallucinations and more make communication, much less recognition, nearly impossible. If a family member, friend, spouse or loved one is at or nearing late-stage alcoholism, or about to attempt their 5th, 10th or 20th detox, do yourself a favor and say whatever you need to say…today.

There are a few drugs which do pose similar risks of death during the withdrawal process. These drugs, mainly barbiturates and benzodiazepines, mimic or act like alcohol-at least in regards to the brain. These drugs actually trick the brain due to their action mechanism and its similarity to alcohol. Somewhere in alcohol’s Top 3 effects is increased stimulation of the drinkers GABA receptors, which in turn initiates a depression of the Central Nervous System. As a person’s drinking continues, with rises in both frequecy of drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed, these receptors become desensitized and begin slowly dying off. The reduced number of receptors causes greater degrees of tolerance and ultimately, physical dependence. Often, when alcohol use is stopped, and especially when it is stopped abruptly, the drinkers central nervous system literally comes under attack from uncontrolled synapse firing. This results in symptoms that can include anxiety and panic, the shakes, hallucinations, delirium tremens (DT’s) and life threatening seizures. These symptoms can continue right up to the moment they cause complete heart failure.

It’s not all bad news. Every single day without alcohol allows the cells to regenerate, the liver to re-build, the mind, literally, to clear. The body and the central nervous system begin to reverse tolerance and elevate GABA functions. Vital organs, no longer bombarded by a liquid that is a first cousin to paint thinner, slowly stop swelling, eventually becoming more “normal” in size. And today there are many more options then just a few years ago, in addition to well-trained, knowledgeable Doctors who can safely and effectively manage an alcohol withdrawal and detox.

For those under the care of a trained doctor or accredited detox facility, symptoms of acute withdrawal generally subside after 1 – 3 weeks, although less severe symptoms like sleeplessness and feelings of anxiety can continue as long as a year or more. The key is abstinence. Abstinence and time. Because after the more dangerous of symptoms has passed, the strongest medicine for alcohol withdrawals is rest, re-hydration and time itself.

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Detox and Withdrawal