If you’re a heavy drinker and has always been for years, then you’re at risk for delirium tremens (DTs). Delirium Tremens is an extreme form of alcohol withdrawal. Therefore, anyone undergoing alcohol withdrawal and are at high risk for this condition must have a medically supervised detox program. This is because anyone undergoing DTs are also at risk for death.
While not everyone who go through alcohol withdrawal experience DTs, anyone who does undergo this must be rushed to the emergency to prevent further complications.
Symptoms of Delirium Tremens
Delirium Tremens will have early signs that begin to show within the first 3 to 4 days after the last alcoholic drink. If a person goes past 3 to 4 days sober without these symptoms, then they are less likely to develop DTs. However, there are rare cases wherein the symptoms of DTs can begin 10 days after the last drink, so it’s still best to be on your toes and watch out for these warning signs:
- Seizures. This can happen when a person shakes violently.
- Confusion. This is characterized by foggy thinking and disorientation.
- Agitation or increased excitement. They seem to be on overdrive for no reason.
- Hallucinations. They can see horrific hallucinations or things that can make them uncomfortable. In some cases, people can feel like they have insects crawling under their skin.
- Increased anxiety. They feel like something bad is about to happen.
- Elevated heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure
Other signs of alcohol withdrawal that don’t fall under delirium tremens include:
- nausea and vomiting
- shaking or tremors, especially on the hands
- sweating
- mood changes
- insomnia
- loss of appetite
- depression
What causes Delirium Tremens?
People who heavily drink or are alcoholics for years are more likely to experience DTs when they try to be sober or cut back on alcohol. These heavy drinkers typically drink a lot every day over a period of months and years.
DTs happens to them because their body has already adapted to drinking alcohol that when the substance is removed, their body reacts negatively. In fact, those who already have an experience of having DTs in the past are at risk of developing more extreme episodes of DTs in the future.
Therefore, people who wants to be sober and overcome alcohol addiction may need medical assistance due to the risk of DTs. Rehab professionals often have diagnostic tools to determine the risk. Those who are at risk are recommended to undergo in-patient detox and even be admitted to intensive care. From here, they can continue on to addiction treatment or rehab.
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