Alcohol Shakes & How to Stop Them

Professional treatment providers play a crucial role in ensuring your safety and comfort during withdrawal. They offer both medical care and emotional support, which are essential in navigating this challenging phase. Uncontrolled shaking of the hands or other parts of the body is common among those suffering from an alcohol addiction. Most of the time, an individual with a drinking problem who shakes is exhibiting https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-alcoholic-types-in-alcoholism/ signs of alcohol withdrawal, but there are other reasons why an alcoholic might shake. Alcohol shakes can occur within hours to days after reducing or stopping alcohol consumption and are often accompanied by other withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, and insomnia. While uncomfortable, alcohol shakes are usually not life-threatening on their own and can be managed with proper care and treatment.

Alcohol Detox Shakes and Withdrawal Symptoms

Mindful meditation is another great way to reduce your anxiety and help prevent cravings and future relapses. To learn how to find an inpatient detox center, read more from our Medical co-author. Uncontrollable shaking of the hands is a common sign of alcohol withdrawal.[1] For many people, it is one of the first symptoms they experience and a sign that worse symptoms are yet to come.

Getting help and support

However, when alcohol consumption ceases or is reduced, the body still produces an excess of these excitatory neurotransmitters, leading to hyperactivity in the nervous system. This hyperactivity manifests as tremors, shakes, and other withdrawal symptoms. Long-term alcoholics will suffer from alcohol shakes because of brain damage, liver disease (cirrhosis), or a disease called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Phone, Video, or Live-Chat Support

Alcohol treatment programs are important because they improve your chances of successfully staying off of alcohol. Only about 20 percent of alcoholics are able to abstain from alcohol permanently without the help of formal treatment or self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Of people who attend AA, 44 percent how to stop tremors from alcohol of those who remain free of alcohol for 1 year probably will remain abstinent for another year. This figure increases to 91% for those who have remained abstinent and have attended AA for 5 years or more. It is usually difficult for people who drink to be completely honest about how much they’ve been drinking.

• Committing to the alcohol recovery process is the best way to keep tremors at bay.
• Although it is not a narcotic, there are still possible side effects, which could be severe.
• The shakes also called tremors can begin 6-10 hours after the last drink, and tend to be the most pronounced from the last alcohol consumption.

Your doctor can help manage shakes

• This is alcohol withdrawal, and it causes uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms.
• If you have a sibling or parent with alcoholism, then you are three or four times more likely than average to develop alcoholism.
• Since alcohol shakes are most often a symptom of withdrawal, it’s obviously encouraged that you abstain from drinking for an extended period of time after experiencing them.
• While receiving treatment, healthcare providers will want to monitor you continuously to make sure you don’t develop life-threatening complications.
• You might feel jittery, anxious, and yes, you might experience those shakes.

• Medicines called benzodiazepines can lessen alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
• If you suddenly stop drinking, you may experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
• During this process, it’s vital to monitor the alcoholic’s blood pressure.
• Co-occurring disorders are treated at the same time as alcohol recovery treatment.
• For many, sustaining sobriety involves regular attendance at support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, where the camaraderie of fellow members encourages ongoing commitment.