Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, can provide the necessary support, medication, and therapy to help you get through this time safely. They’re trained to understand what you’re going through and can offer the treatment and guidance you need. Unstable vital signs increase the risk of complications and can be managed with medications. People who experience severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs may require hospitalization or intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during alcohol. There is a strong connection between anxiety and alcoholism, and it should be no surprise to you that anxiety can produce tremors.
- Others report experiencing hangover shakes in their arms, eyes, head, and even their voice.
- People living with AUD may be at higher risk of severe complications if they abruptly stop drinking.
- If this is what you or someone you know is experiencing, the severity can be measured by the nature of the shakes themselves.
- Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention when in doubt.
- A brain injury may occur in an accident, such as a car collision or a fall.
How to treat hangover shakes
Additionally, the clinicians will monitor the alcohol shakes, ensuring that the proper treatment is given if they persist (which can happen). By answering these questions, you can usually gauge the severity of the shakes. Someone that’s been shaking for a year—in a way that’s noticeable to others—is going to have a different experience treating the shakes than someone who only just noticed a slight tremor.
Is AA a Selfish Program?
The only way to stop the problem is by abstaining from alcohol, then digging deeper to ensure no permanent damage has been done. Odds in your favor and, over time, the alcohol withdrawal shakes will most likely subside. The person that drinks once a year can awake the following morning with an unpleasant tremor in their hand, and the alcoholic can shake daily. By design, alcohol affects our alcohol shakes sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our motor function. Being that alcohol shakes are usually tied to alcohol use disorder, most addiction specialists will chart a course of recovery that extends well after the medical detox period. While we’ll address that further down, it’s important to mention that, during detox, the alcohol shakes will usually increase in intensity.
Alcohol Shakes & Delirium Tremens
Alcohol tremors can be debilitating and can make doing simple daily tasks much more difficult. Committing to the alcohol recovery process is the best way to keep tremors at bay. Over time, your body adjusts to being alcohol-free, and you won’t experience withdrawal symptoms. Not drinking breaks the cycle of consuming and withdrawing from alcohol. Alcohol shakes, or tremors, occur when a long-term or heavy drinker stops consuming alcohol. It can vary from person to person, but they are a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal.
- Focus on a diet full of lean proteins like fish, chicken, lean meats, beans, lentils, nuts and nut butters, and nonfat dairy products.
- Low electrolyte levels can cause cardiac complications such as arrhythmias and heart attacks.
- In cases of long-term alcohol use, withdrawal can be very dangerous and cause serious issues, including high blood pressure, a dangerously high heart rate, seizures and hallucinations.
- As we talked about above, consuming too much alcohol has a very dehydrating effect on your body, and your nervous system tries to start recovering balance as the alcohol wears off.
- Alcohol treatment programs are important because they improve your chances of successfully staying off of alcohol.
You may want to speak with a loved one or therapist about a strategy to prevent relapses from happening. The experience of withdrawing from alcohol can be uncomfortable and difficult. Some people may relapse, or drink alcohol again, to relieve the symptoms. Millions of people join support groups to help stop drinking and stay stopped. Studies show support groups play an instrumental role in helping people develop healthy social networks that result in continued sobriety. People who drink daily or almost every day should not be left alone for the first few days after stopping alcohol.
Treatment Options for Alcoholism
Additionally, alcohol tremors may be a symptom of a more serious condition, like delirium tremens, which necessitate immediate medical attention. In order to treat alcohol tremors, you must first treat your alcohol withdrawal in a healthy and effective way. There are various ways you can go about treating alcohol tremors depending on the type and severity of your tremors. The first step in treating alcohol tremors is addressing the underlying issue, which is alcohol withdrawal. You’ll first need to detox from alcohol altogether in a healthy and effective manner. You should combat alcohol withdrawal in a professional rehab center, as quitting alcohol completely on your own can result in dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Physiology Behind Alcohol-Induced Tremors
- Fatigue and lack of sleep can exacerbate the shakes, so try to prioritize rest and allow your body to recover naturally.
- Before contacting your physician about alcohol tremors, we recommend gaining insight into the possibility you may need more than prescription medications for alcohol shakes.
- Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration.
- One main and serious symptom is the occurrence of hallucinations, which need to be treated by a doctor.
The range of symptoms can be wide and varies greatly from person to person, influenced by factors such as the length and intensity of alcohol use, your general health, and your physiology. For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside after 72 hours. If you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms after three days, talk to your healthcare provider. People with alcohol use disorder who suddenly stop drinking may also have a spike in an amino acid called glutamate. Glutamate causes some common delirium tremens symptoms, such as a sudden, extreme spike in blood pressure, tremors, severe excitability, and seizures. Side effects from alcohol withdrawal range from mild to severe, and some are life-threatening.
Alcohol Tremors Vs. Essential Tremor
These symptoms, which often begin 8 to 24 hours after your last drink, generally include insomnia, headaches, fatigue, and increased anxiety. As part of both inpatient and outpatient programs, you’ll have access to various therapies that can aid in managing withdrawal symptoms and addressing the root causes of addiction. Support groups and peer support are also integral to recovery, as well, providing a community of individuals who understand what you’re going through and can offer encouragement and advice. Detoxification is often the first step in treating alcohol withdrawal and is best managed under medical supervision. This can provide a safe environment to manage the shakes and other symptoms, often with the help of medications that can ease discomfort and reduce the risk of more serious complications.
Symptoms of Alcoholism
After detox, continue to drink the recommended daily amount of water to energize body, improve kidney function, and improve bowel function. Detoxing means clearing the alcohol from the body and managing withdrawal symptoms. Although alcohol will clear the body within a few days, cravings, shakes, and other withdrawal symptoms may linger longer. Once the body is free of alcohol, an individual can begin addiction treatment. They occur more often in people who use alcohol regularly, which may be due to brain damage from excessive alcohol use.