How to Stop Alcohol Withdrawal Shakes & Reduce Tremors
When your body receives the nutrients it needs, it feels better, and you’re less tempted to drink. Alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) or brain injury (ARBI) are brain disorders caused by long-term, heavy alcohol consumption. If you’ve recently stopped consuming alcohol and experienced shaking, talk to a doctor.
People with a history of AUD who want to quit drinking should contact a specialist who can help them and oversee the gradual withdrawal from alcohol. Alcohol shakes, or tremors, are a symptom of alcohol withdrawal that may occur in people shaking from alcohol when they quit drinking or significantly reduce their alcohol consumption. In addition, mental health disorders, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, can increase the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms like tremors.
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Once this program has been completed, usually the alcohol shakes will have subsided immensely. Dependent on the patient, the dwindling of their shakes can take a bit longer, but eventually the CNS regains its stability. Additionally, the clinicians will monitor the alcohol shakes, ensuring that the proper treatment is given if they persist (which can happen).
And by all means, avoid the sugar snacks that you’ll crave once you start detoxing. Get in the habit of eating every three hours to avoid hunger that could lead to alcohol cravings, which will become more intense once the alcohol shakes set in. Before you begin the alcohol detox, shift to a healthy diet rich in lean proteins like chicken, eggs, fish and non-fatty meats. Add in a lot of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, potatoes, beans and pasta.
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When a person struggling with chronic or long-term alcohol abuse quits drinking, they often experience alcohol tremors—uncontrollable shaking, usually in the hands. And a problem in the area of the brain that controls the body’s muscles is what causes these issues. Once you’ve decided to stop drinking alcohol, it’s important to meet with your doctor. He or she can guide you toward the safest, most comfortable, and most effective plan for your sobriety.
Alcohol is a depressant that changes the way the nervous system functions. When a person stops drinking alcohol, they may experience nervous system effects such as tremors. Regularly drinking significant quantities of alcohol gets the brain used to a reduced level of stimulation. When the effect of alcohol wears off, the brain finds it difficult to cope with an increase in activity. This makes the nervous system hyperactive, which may result in shakes or tremors. This article will review alcohol shakes, their causes, treatment, the other signs of alcohol withdrawal, and when a person should contact a doctor.
In addition, certain activities, such as exercise or working outdoors in the heat, can increase the risk of dehydration.
The more your physical and mental health improves, the less likely you are to experience withdrawal shakes or other residual withdrawal symptoms, and the greater quality of life you will enjoy. These tremors can be a sign or symptom of binge drinking, excessive alcohol use over time, alcohol-related brain damage, liver disease, and withdrawal. As mentioned above, tremors, also known as “alcohol shakes”, are a common side effect of alcohol withdrawal. In simple terms, these are fits of involuntary shaking that occur in a person’s body, either centralized to one area or throughout the whole body. Alcohol shakes can happen from both alcohol withdrawal and from excessive alcohol consumption.
This is also a good opportunity to find alternatives to some of your favorite drinks. Be prepared to have these things on hand for when a craving strikes so you can nip it in the bud. The Blackberry Center is a 64-bed behavioral hospital in St. Cloud, Florida.
Alcohol-induced tremors, or “shakes,” are neurological conditions caused by the substance’s effect on the nervous system. Whether it’s social drinking, binge drinking, or chronic alcoholism, excessive consumption can lead to these tremors. They can appear as early as 6 hours after drinking and might last for days. The first step on how to get rid of alcohol shakes is to seek medical help. One must be completely honest about their drinking history to get adequate treatment for alcohol dependence. In the case of alcoholic withdrawal tremors, this symptom is caused by withdrawal from alcoholic substances for a period of time.
- Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it works to suppress the CNS (central nervous system) and lower brain activity.
- The two main causes of alcohol shakes are alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol-related brain damage.
- This makes the nervous system hyperactive, which may result in shakes or tremors.
- The second moderate withdrawal stage occurs between 12 and 48 hours following the last drink.
Alcohol shakes aren’t a sign of weakness but a sign that could lead to health complications. In some mild cases, the tremor may be light and hardly noticeable, but in the more severe cases, it may cause pain and other symptoms that can interfere with daily activities. In the below video, our medical director, Dr. Calarco, explains how alcohol can cause shakes and tremors.
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While hepatic encephalopathy can also lead to coma and death, the condition usually resolves with treatment. Deep breathing is an essential component to many of these practices and works to trigger the body’s natural relaxation response. Slow, deep breathing improves cardiovascular and respiratory health and lifts the mood. Practices like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, acupuncture, and visualization not only help manage stress, they foster a sense of well-being and positive thinking. Hangover shakes can make certain fine motor tasks, such as eating, typing, or dressing, more challenging. A person might speak with a shaky voice or have trouble holding items like utensils.
When your body receives the nutrients it needs, it feels better, and you’re less tempted to drink. Alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) or brain injury (ARBI) are brain disorders caused by long-term, heavy alcohol consumption. If you’ve recently stopped consuming alcohol and experienced shaking, talk to a doctor. People with a history of AUD who want…