Delirium Tremens

Most people are aware that delirium tremens can set in when withdrawing from alcohol and as the name suggests one of the symptoms is tremors and shaking.

What many people may not realise is how severe the other effects of delirium tremens can be. Delirium tremens not only includes body tremors but also changes in mental function, agitation, irritability, confusion, disorientation, decreased attention span, delirium, fear, hallucinations, quick mood changes and restlessness.

Delirium is defined as an acutely disturbed state of mind that occurs in fever, intoxication, and other disorders and is characterised by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.

Hallucination is defined as an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present.

This acutely disturbed state of mind can lead to self-harm and even suicide. Hallucinations may be extremely scary, commanding actions which would not normally be taken by the person.

Symptoms of delirium tremens occur most often within 24 to 96 hours after the last drink, but they can occur up to 7 to 10 days later.

Delirium tremens is most often seen in people who drink 4-5 pints of wine, 7-8 pints of beer, or 1 pint of ‘hard’ alcohol every day for several months. Though the alcohol consumption does not have to be that high, or maintained for that long, in certain cases for delirium tremens to occur.

It is critical that people become aware of the reality of alcohol withdrawal, either for themselves, their loved ones or even strangers with whom they may cross paths.

A horrible example of this is at the end of 2014; a man was found dead in a hotel bathroom, it was discovered that he had repeatedly asked the hotel staff for help and they had dismissed him thinking he was a drunk. His laptop records showed he was searching for help from alcohol withdrawal, looking on Wikipedia and medical sites to help get him answers.

He did not get those answers in time, and those hotel staff were missing this vital information, and before the night was over, he was dead at his own hand.

For more information on alcohol withdrawal, please contact us.