Can You Die From Alcohol, Opiate or Drug Withdrawal?

Wernicke’s encephalopathy presents with confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia, and if left untreated, it progresses to Korsakoff syndrome, a chronic neurological condition. All patients in alcohol withdrawal Alcohol Withdrawal should receive thiamine supplementation before glucose or other carbohydrates to prevent precipitating the condition. Electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypomagnesemia and hypokalemia, are underrecognized yet deadly complications of alcohol withdrawal. Chronic alcohol use disrupts the body’s ability to regulate magnesium and potassium, which are critical for nerve and muscle function, including the heart.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

As a result, 15% of Americans increased their alcohol consumption during the pandemic. The number of deaths attributed to alcohol increased to 99,107 in 2019 to 2020. However, there hasn’t been much progress toward finding a solution, and the rate of people suffering from alcoholism continues to increase. Once the seizure stops, gently roll them onto their side in the recovery position to keep their airway clear and reduce the risk of choking, especially if they are unconscious. Getting emergency medical care is essential, even if the seizure seems to have ended.

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Although it’s uncommon, severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms can actually lead to death during the addiction recovery process. This can happen in a number of different ways, most commonly among alcoholics attempting recovery without medical supervision. Withdrawal happens when a person with a history of heavy drinking suddenly stops.

Recognizing Severe Symptoms and When to Act Fast

Seizures, delirium tremens, cardiovascular instability, and metabolic disturbances are the primary medical complications that can lead to death during alcohol withdrawal. Early recognition of withdrawal symptoms and prompt, appropriate medical intervention are crucial to mitigating these risks and ensuring a safe recovery. Alcohol withdrawal, while often manageable with proper medical care, can indeed lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications. The severity of these complications is directly related to the body’s physiological dependence on alcohol and the abrupt cessation of its consumption.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

If you’re dependent on alcohol, seeking medically supervised detox is the safest way to reduce seizure risk and protect your health. Our clinical team understands the complexities of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and tailors each detox plan to your individual needs. Medical detox for alcohol withdrawal typically takes place in a specialized detox facility or hospital setting. Upon admission, healthcare providers conduct a comprehensive assessment of your drinking history, medical background, and current symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is the term used to describe the collection of symptoms that can develop when someone with alcohol dependence suddenly stops drinking or drastically cuts back.

• To avoid dangerous withdrawal symptoms, physicians usually prescribe a taper of benzodiazepines.
• This is part of why many people attend medical detox, where they can get support from medical staff along the way and avoid serious symptoms through monitoring and appropriate treatment.
• This precision in medication management is nearly impossible to achieve in an unsupervised setting, where self-medication often leads to overdose or inadequate symptom control.
• Psychiatric symptoms in severe withdrawal can also be extreme, including severe anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation.

Alcohol withdrawal seizures – The chances of having withdrawal seizures, and their intensity, grow higher with the number of past withdrawals. Alcohol withdrawal seizures affect around 5% of patients undergoing detox. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening when not properly managed. Your safety and well-being are paramount during this critical phase of recovery. Cedar Oaks Wellness is here to guide you through a safe, medically supervised detox process, offering a drug detox program in Ohio that prioritizes your health.

Moderate side effects of withdrawal, including vomiting, sweating, confusion, and fever, typically onset within hours. Those who suffer severe withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens, may begin to experience them between hours after alcohol use has ceased. During inpatient detox, medical staff closely monitor patients’ vital signs, provide medication to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and assess for any complications. This setting also helps to remove individuals from environments that may trigger relapse. Severe complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, kidney or liver dysfunction and the aforementioned DTs and seizures are the primary causes of death during alcohol withdrawal.

• Alcohol withdrawal, a potentially life-threatening condition, poses significant risks to individuals with severe alcohol dependence.
• The liver can regenerate significantly once drinking stops, and many brain functions improve over months of sobriety.
• People can receive inpatient or outpatient therapy for their alcohol addiction.
• Shannon Weir, RN is the Chief Nursing Officer at Gallus Medical Detox Centers.
• Mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal can be done in an outpatient setting, often requiring daily check-ins.

In addition, alcoholics show increased incidence of interrupted breathing during sleep compared with the general population. These sleep disturbances can cause daytime drowsiness, reducing the efficiency of performance of daytime tasks and increasing the risk of car crashes (Aldrich in press). When the body is continuously exposed to alcohol and develops an alcohol tolerance, it produces more glutamate and less GABA. Even when you stop drinking, the brain continues to underproduce GABA and overproduce glutamate. Alcohol is toxic to the body, causing changes to a person’s metabolism and central nervous system, Schwartz said. But the body of an alcoholic has adapted to this new environment, Schwartz said.

Alcohol withdrawal exists within the context of long-term alcohol dependence. It occurs when someone with an AUD stops drinking entirely or significantly reduces their alcohol intake. A well-structured and individualized approach, under the care of healthcare professionals, increases the likelihood of a safe and successful alcohol detoxification process.