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April 2, 2022 – “The abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption following prolonged excessive use can lead to a life-threatening withdrawal syndrome,” Koob said. He lists the three phases of alcohol withdrawal as:
Acute Lasting roughly one week, the individual will experience anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, increased heart rate; stress circuitry rebounds, seizure peaks by 48 hours; delirium tremens (a rapid onset of confusion) peaks by the 72-hour mark.
Early abstinence Lasting about three to six weeks, the person will experience anxiety and insomnia.
Post-acute withdrawal The patient experiences dysphoria (a deep sense of unease or dissatisfaction, the opposite of euphoria) and anxiety for more than a year.
Roughly 850 people in the U.S. die from alcohol withdrawal every year and 250,000 require treatment in emergency rooms, according to hospital records. In general, around half of those who have been drinking heavily experience significant withdrawal, said Koob.
