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The UK has a drinking culture that normalises and sometimes glamourises alcohol consumption. Drinking too much is often seen as a bit of fun, but alcohol misuse can have very serious consequences. In fact, recent data shows that there are 10,000 alcohol-specific deaths in the UK annually.

Alcoholic liver disease was the biggest cause of these deaths, followed by alcohol-associated mental and behavioural disorders and alcohol poisoning. Excessive consumption of alcohol is clearly dangerous, but quitting suddenly without the proper support in place can have its own risks.

 

Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal

When an individual is living with alcoholism, it can result in a growing tolerance, which means you need to use more and more for the same effect. At the same time, your system adjusts to the alcohol being in your system. Alcohol acts as a depressant of the central nervous system, and so the body creates more ‘stimulant’ chemicals to compensate. When the alcohol is suddenly withdrawn, these chemicals are no longer balanced by the depressive effects of the alcohol. The result is a heightened central nervous system, and the effect is broadly the opposite of alcohol intoxication.

 

The Risks of Alcohol Withdrawal

The results of a heightened autonomic nervous system can include a number of negative effects, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety, mood swings, shaking and nausea. For most people undergoing alcohol withdrawal, the symptoms will be extremely unpleasant but not life-threatening. There may be serious complications for people with existing health conditions, such as cardiac (heart) problems, however. Alcohol withdrawal can also have an adverse impact on mental health. If you are trying to quit drinking, it can also be a barrier, with many people falling at this first major hurdle and seeking out another drink to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms.

But can you die from alcohol withdrawal?

So, can you die from alcohol withdrawal? Well, whilst it’s rare, it it possible, and it can prove fatal. In most cases where death occurs during alcohol withdrawal, it is associated with delirium tremens (DTs) – the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal.

 

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Some of the more common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include (but are not limited to):

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headaches and muscle aches
  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Mood swings
  • Confusion
  • Fever and chills
  • Heart palpitations
  • Increased heart rate and/or blood pressure

Other more severe symptoms that are associated with the most severe withdrawals, including delirium tremens, can include:

  • Involuntary tremors and spasms (‘the shakes’)
  • Visual, auditory or tactile (relating to the sense of touch) hallucinations
  • Extreme confusion
  • Seizures

Mild symptoms can start to appear within 6 hours of stopping drinking, with moderate symptoms tending to occur within 12 to 24 hours. Delirium tremens can typically last for up to seven days and sometimes even longer.

 

Delirium Tremens: A Life-Threatening Condition

The condition known as delirium tremens is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. It is considered a medical emergency and can prove fatal.

It is estimated that more than half of people with a history of alcohol abuse will experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Only around 3% to 5% will experience severe alcohol withdrawal (DTs) with symptoms including profound confusion, autonomic hyperactivity, and cardiovascular collapse.

Some risk factors for delirium tremens include:

  • Heavy drinking prior to sudden cessation.
  • Having previously experienced alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
  • Specific underlying physical and mental health conditions.
  • Certain medications.
  • Age. Older people are more likely to experience DTs.

Delirium tremens has a fatality rate of up to 37% without appropriate treatment. It is, therefore, crucial to identify early signs of severe withdrawal in order to manage these symptoms.

 

Medical Management of Alcohol Withdrawal

Getting the proper treatment for alcohol withdrawal can help you to get through some of the worst of the withdrawal symptoms, as well as monitoring and responding if any complications or more severe symptoms do develop.

Medical detoxification may be offered in a hospital setting for people considered most at risk, but this is quite rare, and resources may be stretched. Outpatient detox is more common, which will involve only a partially supervised withdrawal. Support may be provided through appointments with a nurse or other medical practitioner as you go through the process. You may also be prescribed certain medicines where appropriate to help with withdrawal symptoms.

Another option is to attend a private detox clinic or rehab. This has the benefit of placing you in a secure environment with access to 24-hour care and support from a team of addiction recovery professionals. You will also have medical supervision if complications or more severe symptoms do arise.

 

Preventing Complications During Alcohol Withdrawal

While withdrawal from alcohol will not be life-threatening to most people, complications can and do occur. Milder alcohol withdrawal can also progress into delirium tremens in some people, and while there are risk factors to help predict who might be most at risk, there is no way of knowing who will develop this most severe form of withdrawal.

It is always best to undergo alcohol detox and withdrawal in a supervised environment so that any complications can be addressed as and when they occur.

 

Get Help Today

If you have an alcohol problem, it is usually a good idea to stop drinking as soon as possible. Because alcohol withdrawal can be both difficult and dangerous, it is always best to seek professional advice and to undergo a supervised detox if possible. You can also turn to Nova Recovery for help. We offer a complete addiction recovery service and are experts in managing alcohol withdrawal. Get in touch today for free and confidential advice.

There are also a number of resources you can access for help. You could speak to your GP, who can refer you to local drug and alcohol services, or call one of several charities and hotlines, including:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

FRANK

Alcohol Change UK

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John Gillen - Director & Author at Nova Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: November 17, 2023

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.