While the alcohol withdrawal timeline will vary depending on the severity of the alcohol use disorder, most symptoms present over five to seven days.
Data from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) indicate that over 28 million U.S. adults had alcohol use disorder in 2020. The same data shows that less than one in ten are connected with professional addiction treatment.
If you have been reluctant to initiate your recovery through fear of detoxing, today’s guide highlights the alcohol withdrawal symptoms timeline so you’ll know what to expect.
Research suggests that roughly half of those diagnosed with alcohol use disorder – the clinical descriptor for alcoholism – experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms during detox.`
What can you expect from alcohol withdrawal, then?
What to Expect During an Alcohol Withdrawal
If you are wondering about the timeline for alcohol withdrawal, here are some symptoms you can expect.
AWS (alcohol withdrawal syndrome) refers to the physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms that present when a heavy drinker moderates or discontinues the use of alcohol.
When Does Alcohol Withdrawal Start?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin around 6-12 hours after the last drink, although they most often occur within 24-48 hours after the last drink.
The severity and timeline of withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on things like:
- Amount and duration of alcohol consumption
- Age
- Overall health
- And previous experiences with alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Mild AWS is characterized by these symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Those who experience severe AWS may experience:
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
- Life-threatening seizures
Why do withdrawal symptoms manifest during alcohol detox, though?
Well, the sustained consumption of alcohol typically triggers lasting changes to the CNS (central nervous system).
As a CNS depressant, alcohol has a sedative effect in the brain. Chronic or heavy drinking exposes you continuously to these depressant effects. Your brain will respond by producing chemicals to mitigate this imbalance, counteracting the sluggish feeling that episodes of heavy drinking can induce.
Consuming alcohol regularly will cause your brain to produce higher levels of the neurotransmitters – chemical messengers – norepinephrine and serotonin. If you eliminate alcohol, your brain becomes overstimulated. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a physical and emotional response to this temporary imbalance.
The alcohol withdrawal symptoms timeline present over three distinct stages:
- Mild AWS
- Moderate AWS
- Severe AWS (delirium tremens)
1) Mild AWS
These are the most reported symptoms of mild alcohol withdrawal:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Appetite loss
- Headaches
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Abdominal pain
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Insomnia
2) Moderate AWS
If you experience moderate alcohol withdrawal, the above symptoms will manifest in addition to:
- High body temperature
- Rapid heartbeat
- Increased perspiration
- Shallow breathing
- Heavy sweating
- High systolic blood pressure levels
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Mood swings
3) Severe AWS (delirium tremens)
Research shows that approximately 5% of those who detox from alcohol will experience severe withdrawal, otherwise known as DTs (delirium tremens). DTs can involve fatal seizures if untreated.
Anyone liable to develop severe AWS should avoid abruptly quitting alcohol at home. A supervised medical detox will mitigate complications and minimize the chance of relapse in early recovery.
Many variables influence the timeline of alcohol withdrawal and the severity of symptoms, such as:
- Duration of alcohol abuse.
- Amount of alcohol consumed.
- Physical health conditions.
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
- Stress levels.
- Family history of alcohol abuse and addiction.
Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms. While every case of alcohol use disorder is different, the detox timeline is similar.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline
These are the symptoms you can expect to encounter during the three stages of alcohol withdrawal timeline outlined above:
- Mild AWS: Symptoms include headaches, GI disturbances, anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations.
- Moderate AWS: Mild hyperthermia, raised heart rate, confusion, abnormal breathing, and high blood pressure, in addition to the symptoms of mild AWS.
- Severe AWS: Disorientation, attention issues, hallucinations, seizures, and the symptoms of mild and moderate AWS.
The duration and quantity of alcohol abuse directly impacts the alcohol detox timeline and withdrawal timeline. Any underpinning physical or mental health conditions will also influence how long alcohol withdrawal lasts.
Although all cases of alcohol detox are unique, the following timeline is indicative of what to expect during withdrawal detox timeline. Alcohol detox is a difficult and complex process and is always best to navigate with in a professional treatment center environment.
6 Hours After Last Alcoholic Drink
Expect to experience minor alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the early phase of detox.
12 Hours to 24 Hours After Last Alcoholic Drink
The first day of sobriety is when hallucinations can present.
24 Hours to 48 Hours After Last Alcoholic Drink
Tremors, headaches, stomach upsets, and other minor withdrawal symptoms linger. These symptoms should peak after 24 hours, then dissipate after just four or five days.
48 Hours to 72 Hours After Last Alcoholic Drink
Delirium tremens, commonly abbreviated to DTs, is the most severe form of AWS impacting around 5% of people detoxing from alcohol. In the event of seizure, DTs can be fatal. Anyone expecting to experience severe AWS should always consider a medical detox. Quitting at home alone is simply too dangerous.
72 hours after last alcoholic drink
Symptoms of AWS will peak by this phase of the alcohol detox for most people.
How Long Does it Take for Your Body to Return to Normal After Alcohol?
While there is no fixed blueprint for alcohol detox and withdrawal, most case of AWS involve symptoms that subside after no more than five days.
In the event of PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome), symptoms can sometimes persist for a month or more.
Alcohol Detox at Renaissance Recovery
Detoxing from alcohol at home is inadvisable and could be dangerous or life-threatening. Avoid these complications by reaching out to Renaissance. We can connect you with licensed medical detox centers throughout Southern California.
With access to FDA-approved medications to streamline cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as well as clinical and emotional care, you will build the firmest foundation for ongoing recovery.
We offer treatment programs for alcoholism (alcohol use disorder) at the following levels of intensity:
- Outpatient programs
- IOPs (intensive outpatient programs)
- PHPs (partial hospitalization programs)
If you cannot get to our Orange County treatment facility, consider our virtual IOP. This allows you to connect with therapy and counseling via video calls.
All Renaissance Recovery treatment programs for alcohol addiction draw from the same evidence-based and holistic interventions:
- MAT
- Psychotherapy (CBT or DBT)
- Group counseling
- Individual counseling
- Family therapy
- Experiential adventure therapy
To detox from alcohol as safely as possibly, and to benefit from structured and supportive treatment without the cost or the restrictions of residential rehab, call 866.330.9449 today.
