Alcohol Withdrawal (DTs, Delirium Tremens)

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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Alcohol Withdrawal
Category : Health Centers > Alcoholism

Alcohol Withdrawal

Alternate Names : DTs, Delirium Tremens

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring

Alcohol withdrawal is a set of symptoms that may occur when a person suddenly stops drinking after using alcohol for a long time.

What is going on in the body?

When a person has been drinking to excess for several months or years, his or her body comes to rely on alcohol and its effects. Alcohol is a depressant that acts like a sedative or tranquilizer on the body. When the intake of alcohol is suddenly stopped, the body may go through withdrawal.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Alcohol withdrawal rarely occurs in a person who only drinks once in a while. Someone who has gone through alcohol withdrawal before is more likely to have withdrawal symptoms each time he or she quits drinking alcohol.

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		Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms & Signs

Author: Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed: 09/14/01

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