Alcohol withdrawal state

Symptoms:

• feeling of jumpiness or nervousness
• feeling of shakiness
• anxiety
• irritability or easily excited
• emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes
• depression
• fatigue
• difficulty with thinking clearly
• sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• headache, general, pulsating
• sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• insomnia, sleeping difficulty
• paleness
• rapid heart rate
• eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
• skin, clammy
• abnormal movement
  • tremor
  • rapid and rhythmic tremor
  • involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

Complicated alcohol abstinence symptoms:

• hallucinations (visual)
• agitation
• fever
• convulsions

Signs and tests:

Examination of the neuromuscular system may show increased startle reflex, bulbous-red nose, or rapid rhythmic muscle tremors. Abnormal eye muscle movement such as lid lag may be present. The heart rate may be faster than normal (greater than 90). Body temperature may be elevated. Heart rate and body temperature may fluctuate.

A toxicology screen for blood alcohol level may be performed.