What are signs of w/d?

[Breakingfree]

I posted not long ago with wonderful advice from some of you. I know the w/d symptoms from vicodin (awful) but are w/d's like from alcohol? I never seem to have any when the day comes that I don't have a drink. That's not often either. Thanks. Do I really want to know? I'm scared.

[boogieman]

howdy. alcohol withdrawal is not much fun either. i've gone through wd from opiates and booze, once from both at the same time. as alcohol is a cns depressant, a person who has abused it in quantity and frequency has essentially conditioned their bodies into producing inadequate levels of neurotransmitters. the chemicals that would normally regulate the cns are inhibited as the alcohol has changed their necessity. withdrawal occurs as a result of the brain trying to re-normalize as the cns is abruptly deprived of the sedating effects of alcohol. the nervous system essentially goes into a state of hyperactivity which results in anxiety, irritability, insomnia and mild tremors aka 'the shakes.' from there, the symptoms can become more pronounced as well as manifest serious conditions like elevated pulse/blood pressure, delusional thoughts, hallucinations, irregular heartbeat, and seizures. the most serious cases in which delirium tremens occur, result in a 20 to 30% mortality rate. with medical treatment, this is reduced to less than 5%. typically, symptoms develop within 12 hours of last drink, and are most intense at 48 to 72 hours, but they can last for several days---my last time around i had a seizure 7 days after my last drink. if you are planning to stop, it would be best to do so under medical supervision as tolerance and risk of side effects always increases, even during periods of abstinence.  best wishes-----gm

[Breakingfree]

You are an inspiration to this site and its people. Not only for me and all the info you hold but I see you respond to nearly everyone's questions. Thank you and I think I can speak for all of us.

[boogieman]

hi again. no problem. i'm just trying to give back what i was freely given, and that's all i ask of anyone that i try to help, as there were people ready to help me in my darkest hours. just pass it on.   gm

[Breakingfree]

I pass on what I can about my opiate w/d, and hope someday to be able to do the same with alcohol. Thank you again.