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If you drink alcohol heavily for weeks, months, or years, you may have both mental and physical problems when you stop or seriously cut back on how much you drink. When an individual who has an alcohol addiction attempts to stop using alcohol, a series of events begins to occur within the body. Understanding how this process unfolds can be essential in ensuring proper care is taken to prevent further harm from occurring. No matter how severe or mild your symptoms, the best long-term treatment is to stop drinking completely, especially when you’ve already gone through withdrawal. To that end, you’ll need to make sure that you’re living in an environment that’s supportive to refraining from alcohol use. Alcohol withdrawal generally makes people feel exhausted, especially during the first few days as your body readjusts.<\/p>\n
This activity reviews the evaluation and management of alcohol withdrawal and highlights the interprofessional team’s role in the recognition and management of this condition. This condition is uncommon for most people experiencing alcohol withdrawal; however, it is a life-threatening emergency when it does occur. The majority of people experience a full recovery from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some people continue to have disruptive symptoms known as post-acute withdrawal for months such as difficulty sleeping, fatigue, mood swings, and fatigue. If you’ve been regularly drinking excessively, when you stop drinking all of a sudden, you may experience one or more alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Depending on your past alcohol use, these symptoms can range from mild and uncomfortable to severe and potentially life-threatening.<\/p>\n
Central nervous system infection or hemorrhage can cause seizures and mental status changes. Withdrawal from other sedative-hypnotic agents causes symptoms similar to those occurring in alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Minor withdrawal symptoms can occur while the patient still has a measurable blood alcohol level.<\/p>\n
However, those who drink more excessively may experience symptoms that last weeks or even months. About 3% to 5% of people who withdraw from heavy drinking experience delirium tremens. This condition can become fatal if it’s left untreated, so if you or a loved one show any symptoms of the DTs, seek emergency treatment because symptoms can get worse. Medicines called benzodiazepines can lessen alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Commonly used medicines in this group include chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and lorazepam (Ativan).<\/p>\n
If you already have alcohol use disorder, it\u2019s important to seek counseling and medical care as soon as possible. The goal is to safely and gradually decrease your dependence on alcohol so that you can resume your daily life. Xanax belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines, which work by slowing down the central nervous system. However, using these medications at home without direct physician involvement can lead to disastrous consequences. Treatment providers can discuss options for free to help individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder. Contact a treatment provider today to determine what is the safest next step to take in the journey to recovery from alcohol use disorder.<\/p>\n
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When you talk to your doctor about symptom relief, it’s a good idea to discuss treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence. Although Xanax may help manage the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal<\/a>, it does not come without risks. Benzodiazepines are highly addictive, just like alcohol, and may lead to dependence if used for long periods. They are also dangerous when mixed with alcohol, and taking Xanax while still drinking increases the risk of overdose. Common medications used to help with alcohol withdrawal include long-acting Benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium, etc.), which function similarly to how alcohol impacts the brain.<\/p>\n Intended to aid clinicians in their clinical decision making and management of patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome. If you have mild to moderate symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, you may be able to withdraw at home, but you need to have someone stay with you to make sure your symptoms don’t get worse. You may need to see your doctor on a daily basis until you are stabilized as well.<\/p>\nWhat Is Alcohol Detox?<\/h2>\n