Alcohol withdrawal state

Definition:

Alcohol withdrawal state refers to a group of symptoms that may occur from suddenly stopping the use of alcohol after chronic or prolonged ingestion.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Alcohol withdrawal state occurs in approximately 1 out of 10,000 people, usually adults. It occurs when a person who uses alcohol excessively suddenly stops the alcohol use, usually within 12 to 72 hours after the last drink. Excessive alcohol use is generally considered intake equivalent to 7 to 8 pints of beer (or 1 pint of "hard" alcohol) per day for several months or habitual use of alcohol or alcoholism that has existed for more than 10 years.

The symptoms result from nervous system toxicity caused by alcohol and can range from mild to moderate (anxiety, thinking difficulty, and muscle tremors), to severe complicated alcohol abstinence symptoms (delirium tremens, called d.T.s and convulsions).