What Exactly Are Delirium Tremens?

12/26/2018

What Exactly Are Delirium Tremens?

A person who decides to stop drinking cold turkey will have a variety of withdrawal symptoms. Ranging from mild to severe, the worst withdrawal from alcohol is called delirium tremens. Understanding what are delirium tremens reveals withdrawing from alcohol is a delicate time. Therefore, what exactly are delirium tremens and have can you overcome this. Learn more below.

Specifically What Exactly Are Delirium Tremens?

Delirium tremens, or DT, is commonly known as the shakes. This is a visible description of what a person goes through during this often very dangerous process. DT is a form of changes to a person’s mental or nervous system after they stop heavily drinking alcohol.

Delirium tremens occur most often when a person suddenly stops after spending more than 10 years drinking excessively. Alcohol withdrawal signs usually manifest within 48-96 hours after their last drink. These signs include:

Shaky hands
Nausea
Sweating
Vomiting
Insomnia

Now that you have an idea behind, what exactly are delirium tremens, you can fight back against alcoholism. In some cases, signs of DT may occur up to 10 days after the person’s last drink. Some people go through this for 24 hours. Others may endure these issues for up to five days.

Two factors impact the amount of time a person endures withdrawing from alcohol. First, actual time depends on how long the person drank before trying to seek treatment. Second, how much alcohol they consumed from their first drink to seeking treatment is a consideration.

What Causes Delirium Tremens?

The exact cause of DTs is still debatable. One common thought is that excessive alcohol drinking interferes with regulation of the body’s GABA, a neurotransmitter. GABA blocks impulses that occurs between nerve cells in the brain.

Heavy drinking may cause the body to mistake alcohol for GABA. This decreases how the body produces the neurotransmitter. Experiencing alcohol withdrawal after chronic drinking tricks the body into believing it does not have enough GABA. The body thinks it cannot function properly, which leads to delirium tremens.This is why it’s important to know what exactly are delirium tremens.

What are Delirium Tremens Symptoms?

The body must adapt to sudden changes anytime a person stops drinking alcohol after prolonged use. They experience a wide range of DTs symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations, fatigue and restlessness. Severe cases of DTs may also include seizures.

Treating Delirium Tremens

Goals during DTs treatment is linked to what a person experiences when withdrawing from alcohol.

Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, preventing complications and helping the person abstain from alcohol. Treating and knowing what exactly are delirium tremens works best when the person is in a supervised environment. Most often, they will need to be hospitalized for constant monitoring of their symptoms.

One common treatment for DTs is using benzodiazepine to sedate the person. This allows time to suppress the excitability of their nervous system to reduce DTs symptoms.

We Provide the Care You Need

Silver Pines Treatment Center, located near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, gives you the help and support you need. We understand the importance of individualized care and knowing what exactly are delirium tremens.

Our alcohol addiction treatment center provides a safe atmosphere within nature. You receive home-like care while your body catches up with your decision to be sober. Our services include:

If you are at high-risk for experiencing DTs, contact us today at 267.209.7313. Our quality rehab and recovery program will help you get back on the right track. Learn what exactly are delirium tremens today and overcome any challenges in your life.