Withdrawal syndrome: symptoms and treatment at home. Withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism: what is it, how to treat it, what to expect
What is a binge?
binge is a pathological condition that is characterized by constant alcohol consumption for several days, characteristic mental, neurological and somatic (from the internal organs) disorders.There are two types of drinking:
- False most often found in people who do not suffer from alcoholism, but the so-called domestic drunkenness. They are not physically dependent. A person drinks because that is his way of life. He does this daily "for company" with drinking buddies or in order to "relieve stress." Domestic drunkenness is not a disease. A person can easily get out of a binge, for example, when there is nothing to buy another bottle (most often this happens).
- True binges- manifestation of the late stages of alcoholism. An alcoholic is a sick person. He has formed a physical dependence: ethyl alcohol is included in the metabolism, the body literally cannot live without it. An alcoholic during a binge, like a drug addict, is not stopped by either the lack of money or reproaches from loved ones. He will come out of the binge only when his body is "satiated" with ethyl alcohol, and his health will be undermined.
How does a true binge usually proceed?
The course of true binge can be divided into the following periods:| Days before drinking | The craving for alcohol is on the rise. The patient becomes irritable. He often falls into a state of unmotivated anger. |
| First day of drinking | The patient begins to consume alcoholic beverages in the largest possible quantities. |
| Subsequent days of drinking | Gradually, the patient begins to take smaller doses of alcohol, but does it more often. Many switch to weaker drinks, such as wine or beer (the so-called "nurturing"). Often patients begin to experience an aversion to alcohol. The smell alone can provoke a gag reflex. But the body needs another dose of ethyl alcohol, so a person has to take it. The line between the states of intoxication and sobriety is blurred. Many alcoholics develop amnesia, and they do not remember at all what happened during the binge. Many become disabled. Others, on the contrary, may become overly active, commit socially dangerous acts and crimes. |
| The end of the binge | At the end of the binge, the condition of the alcoholic usually worsens greatly. Health is seriously undermined. Many people need medical help. |
| "Lucid interval" | "Light intervals" in the drunken course of alcoholism are always longer than the binges themselves. They can last 1 month, 3 months (so-called quarterly binges) or longer. At this time, the patient feels a surge of vivacity, his working capacity increases. But the "light gap" is not a health condition. It is just a "preparation" of the body for the next binge. The disease doesn't go away. |
Why is drinking dangerous?
Binge drinking is a condition that poses a threat to the health and life of the patient himself, a danger to others. The most common disorders that occur during drinking:
- Violation of higher nervous functions: memory, thinking, attention. During the binge, the patient can commit criminal offenses, but after getting out of it he cannot remember what happened, what he did. In most cases, such amnesia does not exempt from liability before the law.
- Change of consciousness. The person is inadequate. Various hallucinations may occur.
- The risk of heart attacks and strokes increases sharply. This is due to an increase in blood pressure and gluing of red blood cells (erythrocytes), resulting in blockage of small vessels.
- Liver damage occurs. In severe cases, drinking can result in alcoholic cirrhosis (a disease characterized by the death of liver cells and their replacement with adipose tissue).
- Ethyl alcohol irritates the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. During binge, exacerbation of gastritis, peptic ulcer and other diseases of the stomach and intestines occurs.
- Neurological lesions manifest as trembling in the hands, throughout the body.
- The patient is troubled by insomnia: he cannot sleep until he has taken a dose of alcohol.
How to get a person out of a binge?
Possible withdrawal methods:- send the patient to the hospital;
- call a narcologist and start removing from hard drinking at home;
- carry out withdrawal from hard drinking independently with the help of medicines;
- carry out treatment at home independently with folk remedies.
When do you need to take the patient to the hospital, and when can you take him out of the binge at home?
This issue cannot be resolved, focusing only on the wishes of the patient and his relatives. There are clear medical indications:| Criterion | Can be treated at home | Requires withdrawal from binge in a hospital |
| Drinking time | Less than 7 days | More than 7 days |
| When was the last binge? | Over 3 months ago | Less than 3 months ago |
| How old is the patient? | Under 60 years old | Over 60 years old |
| How many years has the patient been alcoholic? | Less than 5 years | Over 5 years |
| Are there any chronic diseases? | No | There are chronic diseases of the nervous system, heart, liver, kidneys, respiratory organs, endocrine glands |
| Is drinking associated with an acute illness? | No, in all other respects the patient is perfectly healthy. | Yes, you have a cold or other acute infection. |
| Does the patient have any signs that indicate mental abnormalities? | No | There are hallucinations, delusions, obviously inappropriate behavior, the patient is trying to commit socially dangerous and illegal actions. |
| Is there a significant deterioration in the patient's condition? | No, he is generally fine. |
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| Is the patient obese or malnourished? | No | Yes |
If you want to get a person out of hard drinking, the most correct action is to call one of the clinics and call a narcologist at home, or come to an appointment with a doctor. The specialist will assess the condition of the alcoholic and tell you exactly where and how best to treat him.
Treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (delirium tremens)
Withdrawal alcohol syndrome (withdrawal, delirium tremens) is a pathological condition that occurs as a result of an abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption after a binge or a significant reduction in its dose. It can last from 24 hours to several days. The duration of the withdrawal syndrome is one of the main criteria for the degree of its severity. abstinence- one of the most striking and common manifestations of alcoholism. Often the diagnosis is made for the first time after an episode of delirium tremens.
Why does withdrawal syndrome occur?
During drinking, alcohol accumulates in the patient's body. The work of all organs and tissues is rebuilt. They "get used" to function in the conditions of constant presence in the blood of large amounts of ethyl alcohol and the products of its transformations.When alcohol abruptly ceases to enter the body, the concentration of ethanol in the blood drops. For the body, this becomes stressful. As a result, all the symptoms described below develop.
What are the signs of alcohol withdrawal syndrome?
Withdrawal symptoms after prolonged use of ethyl alcohol are different. They depend on the state of the patient's body, the characteristics of his nervous system.| General manifestations |
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| Psychic manifestations |
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| Manifestations from the internal organs |
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Alcoholic delirium (delirium tremens)- the most striking manifestation of alcohol withdrawal. The patient becomes inadequate. He is disturbed by hallucinations (“devils”, “bandits”, a feeling of mice and insects crawling over the body), delirium appears (most often this is the delusion of persecution - “there is someone in the apartment, they want to deal with me”). A person in a state of delirium tremens becomes very excited, he can harm himself and others.How to treat alcohol withdrawal syndrome?
Alcohol withdrawal and, in particular, delirium tremens is a very dangerous condition. Ethyl alcohol has become almost vital to the patient's body, like food and air. During withdrawal, the body's resources are severely depleted, it works almost to the limit of its capabilities. Severe complications and death of the patient can occur. In addition, in this state, people do the most unpredictable things. They can harm themselves, injure or even kill another person. Withdrawal is a reversible state. It can pass on its own, without the help of a doctor. But the risk is always very high. Therefore, the optimal solution for alcohol withdrawal syndrome is to start treatment as soon as possible. In some cases, it is necessary to call a doctor and the police in order to subdue a violent alcoholic and transport him to a clinic.
In most cases, narcologists refuse to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms at home. The patient's stay in the hospital is a prerequisite.
Withdrawal from hard drinking and treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Medications are used to treat the conditions described above. The main activity is detox therapy- a set of measures aimed at cleansing the body of ethyl alcohol and its transformation products.The set of drugs used during treatment may be different depending on the patient's condition. He is selected by a doctor. We list below the main groups of drugs used:
| A drug | Effects on the body in alcoholism |
| vitamin therapy Vitamins help restore the function of the nervous system and other organs, normalize their condition and protect against further damage by ethyl alcohol. |
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| VitaminB1 (thiamine) | Thiamine- a vitamin that improves the conduction of impulses between neurons(nerve cells). In patients with alcoholism, it improves the functions of the nervous system. |
| VitaminB6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) | Pyridoxine- a vitamin that improves the functioning of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), peripheral nerves. Improves the metabolism of amino acids, which contributes to the excretion acetaldehyde(a product of the conversion of ethyl alcohol in the liver) from the body. |
| VitaminPP (nicotinic acid) | A nicotinic acid- a vitamin-like substance with vasodilating properties, normalizing the metabolism in the body. Improves the supply of organs and tissues with oxygen. Especially active on the upper half of the body. |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | Ascorbic acid- a vitamin that is an antioxidant. It protects cells and tissues from damage by free radicals, the level of which is elevated in the blood of alcoholics. |
| Detoxification therapy Various solutions are used, which are administered intravenously through a dropper. Their purpose is to quickly remove ethyl alcohol from the body. |
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| Unithiol | |
| Sodium thiosulfate | A substance that can bind, neutralize toxins and remove them from the body. |
| 40% and 5% glucose solution | 40% glucose provides the body with a lot of energy and helps it fight intoxication after drinking ethyl alcohol. 5% glucose solution has the same effect, but to a lesser extent. It can serve as the basis for a drug drip. |
| Urea solution | Removes cerebral edema. Restores water balance in the body. |
| Solution of Magnesium Sulfate (Magnesia) |
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| Saline solution (Sodium Chloride 0.9%) | Restores water and electrolyte balance, eliminates dehydration, is the basis for droppers with drugs. |
| Hemodez |
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| Psychotropic drugs Designed to eliminate psychotic disorders(excessive excitement, aggressiveness, anxiety, irritability, delirium, hallucinations) during an attack of delirium tremens. |
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| Diazepam |
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| Phenazepam (Seduxen) | It has effects similar to diazepam. The most pronounced anti-anxiety effect. |
| Grandaxin | A mild anti-anxiety drug. Unlike Phenazepam and Diazepam, it does not have a hypnotic effect and does not reduce muscle tone. |
| Haloperidol |
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| Other drugs |
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| Glycine | Amino acid. Accelerates the inactivation and excretion of acetaldehyde from the body. Enhances protective inhibitory impulses in the brain. |
| Piracetam | Nootropic drug - improves brain functions: thinking, memory, attention, etc. |
| Symptomatic therapy According to indications, drugs are used that eliminate certain symptoms of disorders from the internal organs:
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Other modern methods of detoxifying the body with alcohol addiction
| Method | Description | Contraindications | How is the procedure carried out? |
| Bioxen therapy | Xenon- a chemical element, a gas, the therapeutic properties of which were discovered in 1999. Inhalation through a mask of a mixture of oxygen and xenon gives the following therapeutic effects:
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| The duration of the procedure is 3-4 minutes. The patient is placed on the couch and asked to relax. He takes two deep breaths and then holds his breath for a few seconds. Then a mask is placed on his face and he breathes a mixture of xenon and oxygen (1:1). |
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| Plasmapheresis | Plasmapheresis- purification of blood from alcohol and acetaldehyde using special devices (filters or centrifuges can be used in them). The apparatus divides the blood into a liquid part (plasma) and formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets). The formed elements are returned back to the patient's vein, and the plasma with ethanol and acetaldehyde dissolved in it is disposed of. Effects of plasmapheresis:
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| The procedure is carried out under sterile conditions. The patient is placed on a special couch, a catheter is inserted into the vein, through which the required amount of blood is taken (it is determined by the doctor individually). The duration of the session can be from 1 to 3 hours. |
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| Intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) | VLOK - a variety light therapy. The therapeutic effect is achieved by exposure to light quanta on plasma and blood cells. ILBI effects:
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| A needle connected to a light guide is inserted into the patient's vein. Through it, laser radiation is delivered into the vein. The procedure lasts an average of 15-20 minutes. The total duration of treatment is 3-10 sessions, which are carried out daily or every other day. |
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Can a person be considered recovered after withdrawal from hard drinking and the state of alcohol withdrawal?
Only the first stage of alcohol dependence treatment has been described above. Probably, it cannot be called a treatment as such, because all these measures eliminate acute conditions, but they do not solve the problem.After the alcoholic is taken out of the binge, he, feeling better, believes that now everything is in order with him. You can "catch your breath" for some more time, and then "start drinking in a new way, now culturally." But the fact is that even a small glass of alcohol will lead to a new relapse and, most likely, another binge. The only way to definitively treat alcohol addiction is to completely abstain from alcohol. Forever. Changes in the body of an alcoholic will never allow him to drink "like everyone else."
Hangover
What is hangover syndrome?
Hangover syndrome is often confused with withdrawal symptoms and delirium tremens. In fact, these are different states that have different origins and different mechanisms of development. Withdrawal syndrome is a lack of alcohol in the body. Hangovers are caused by poisoning with ethanol and the toxic product it turns into in the liver, acetaldehyde.
Any person who has taken at least once in a lifetime a fairly large amount of alcohol has felt a hangover syndrome to one degree or another.
hangover symptoms
- general disturbance of well-being, a state of weakness, depression
- headache and dizziness
- photophobia
- nausea and vomiting, belching, heartburn
- loss of appetite
- cardiopalmus
- pain under right rib
- Bad mood
- decrease in working capacity
- stool disorder
Hangover treatment, hangover recovery
The goal of hangover treatment is to restore the functions of organs and tissues, remove the state of intoxication, remove ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde from the body, and improve the patient's condition.hangover pills
| A drug | Components included | Mechanism of action |
| Alkoseltzer Mode of application: Take 1 tablet of the drug, dissolving it in a glass of water. If there is no improvement, take a second tablet 4 to 8 hours later. | Aspirin |
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| Soda |
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| Lemon acid | ||
| Alco buffer Mode of application: Dissolve 3 tablets in a glass of water and drink. | Milk thistle extract | Protects the liver from toxic products. |
| Salt of succinic acid | ||
| Alka-prim Mode of application: Dissolve 2 tablets of the drug in a glass of water. Drink up. In the absence of improvement, you can take up to 3 - 4 doses during the day. | Aspirin |
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| Soda |
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| Glycine (amino acid) |
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| Antipohmelin Mode of application: Take 2 tablets before a meal. Then take 2 tablets for every 100 grams of strong alcoholic drinks and for every 250 grams of weak alcoholic drinks. |
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| Buffalo Mode of application: The drug is available in powder form in sachets. It is necessary to dissolve the contents of one sachet in a glass of water and take it after drinking large doses of alcohol at bedtime. | succinic acid | Enhances the oxidation of acetaldehyde and its excretion from the body. |
| Soda |
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| Get up Mode of application: Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water. Drink before going to bed after drinking a lot of alcohol or in the morning, when signs of a hangover appear. | Ginseng extract dry | Ginseng is a natural adaptogen. Increases the body's resistance to various negative influences. |
| St. John's wort |
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| Thyme |
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| Rose hip |
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| Lemon acid |
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| good morning Mode of application: The drug is available in the form of powder sachets. Dissolve the contents of one sachet in a glass of water and drink. | Dried Pickled Cucumber Concentrate | In fact, when the contents of the sachet are dissolved, a kind of brine is obtained. Mechanism of action:
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| grape comb extract |
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| See above. | |
| Flavoring additives that create the taste of black pepper, cloves, garlic, dill. | Improving the taste of the solution.  |
Folk remedies for the treatment of hangover syndrome
Mineral water with lemonDuring a hangover, dehydration occurs. Therefore, drinking plenty of water is always beneficial. Mineral water is preferable, as it helps to restore the electrolyte balance in the body. It is necessary to squeeze some juice from a slice of lemon into it. It contains citric acid (effects - see above).
Plentiful food
Food will supply the body with the necessary substances and energy, and will speed up the recovery from a hangover. The most preferred chicken broth.
Brine
You can use brine from cucumbers, tomatoes or sauerkraut. It contains large amounts of potassium and magnesium. These minerals improve the functioning of the nervous system, the heart.
citrus fruit cocktail
Ingredients:
- lemon juice;
- juice of three oranges;
- 1 egg yolk;
- 100 g honey.
Coffee with lemon and cognac
Squeeze juice from a slice of lemon into a glass with sweet coffee, add a small amount of cognac. This drink improves well-being, but causes drowsiness.
Cold and hot shower
Start with warm water, finish with water, the temperature of which is slightly lower than room temperature. This method should be used with caution to avoid colds.
Hangover treatment with drip
The conclusion from the state of a hangover with the help of a dropper is carried out by a doctor. Usually, for this, a narcologist is called to the house. Sometimes doctors of "Ambulance" and other specialties "moon moonlight" with the provision of such services.You need to use the services of a specialist who has the appropriate experience, and whose competence you are sure of.
A dropper may be required for severe hangovers when other methods fail, or the person needs to return to normal very quickly.
The most common set of drugs that are part of the hangover dropper (their effects are described above in the table describing the treatment of binge and withdrawal):
- glucose solution 5% 200 ml in a vial;
- magnesium solution;
- a solution of ascorbic acid (vitamin C - often take a tenfold daily rate);
- piracetam solution.
Self-medication and incorrect assessment of the patient's condition can lead to complications. A dropper for a hangover should be put only by a doctor.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome - a set of disorders of the body, nervous system and psyche that occurs in an alcoholic with a lack of ethanol in the body (due to a significant reduction in the daily dose or complete rejection of alcohol).
Theory. In everyday life, the withdrawal syndrome is usually called a hangover. The problem is that a hangover is often confused with feeling unwell the next morning after an evening of excess. In fact, in most cases, nausea, dizziness, weakness after alcohol abuse are the consequences of intoxication of the body. As soon as the decomposition products of ethanol are neutralized and removed from the body, the person will feel better.
A hangover is a state when you want to get drunk, that is, take a new dose of alcohol. On this basis, a healthy person is distinguished from an alcoholic. With ordinary postintoxication, even the very thought of alcohol causes disgust, and the alcoholic dreams of a strong drink as a medicine.
Withdrawal (hangover) syndrome is a symptom of alcoholism starting from stage II. In a healthy person, there can be no desire to get drunk with alcohol.
Cause of withdrawal syndrome
The liver perceives alcohol as a poison that needs to be neutralized. But if the poison is taken in large doses daily, the liver sooner or later ceases to cope with it. The gradual degradation of all internal organs begins.
However, the human body has a fairly large margin of safety. The body is trying to adapt to new conditions. Since ethanol and its breakdown products are now constantly present in the blood, the body builds them into the metabolism.
Sooner or later, alcohol begins to regulate the production of the neurotransmitter hormone dopamine, which is responsible for the feeling of pleasure (satisfaction). The joy of something: delicious food, a pleasant pastime - we experience precisely due to the production of dopamine.
And if a healthy person’s condition only improves as they get rid of toxins, then the opposite is true for an alcoholic. The metabolism is disturbed, the production of dopamine stops.
The patient, experiencing bodily suffering, falls into depression. And all this can be fixed with a few sips of alcohol. In order not to succumb to temptation and not go into a binge, you need to have a strong will.
Withdrawal severity levels
The severity of the withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism depends on the stage of the disease, the state of health and the age of the patient.
Classification of the withdrawal syndrome depending on the level of severity:
- mild, inherent in the beginning of stage II of alcoholism. The symptoms are tolerable. The patient experiences some weakness, headache, nausea, and the mouth becomes dry. The craving for alcohol is moderate, you can do without it at all or get drunk in the evening. It should alert the patient that after drinking alcohol it becomes easier;
- medium severity. The ailments described above intensify, problems with pressure and heart (tachycardia, pain), swelling, and gastrointestinal disorders are added to them. The patient can still go without alcohol for several hours, but prefers to get drunk before dinner;
- heavy. To these symptoms are added disorders of the nervous system. The patient becomes irritable, sleeps badly, hands begin to tremble. To get drunk, a person is ready to move mountains in search of alcohol;
- acute, characteristic of the end of the second stage of alcoholism. Mental disorders appear: uncontrollable fear, depression, up to suicidal moods;
- deployed. Exacerbation of all symptoms, accompanied by chronic insomnia. The patient is approaching stage III;
- syndrome with psychoorganic disorders, characteristic of stage III alcoholism. A person experiences sudden, unmotivated mood swings, gradually loses memory, speech is disturbed, hallucinations are possible.
Treatment of withdrawal symptoms at home
Treatment of withdrawal syndrome is just a preparatory stage for treatment for alcoholism, the two processes should not be confused. In the hospital, the disorders that accompany the hangover syndrome are cured with the help of intravenous infusions (infusions) of various drugs. The dosage must be very strict, so it is forbidden to use such drugs at home.
Attention! Self-medication can be harmful to health, before using the above methods, consult your doctor.
Treatment of withdrawal syndrome at home is possible only if the patient:
- under 60 years old;
- does not suffer from cardiovascular diseases;
- has a strong will.
Home treatment procedures
- It is necessary to take an absorbent 2 times a day, the easiest way is activated charcoal, at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight. The duration of the course is 2-4 weeks. At least 2 weeks should elapse between taking coal and other medicines. It is not recommended to cleanse the stomach with vomiting, as this can provoke internal bleeding.
- On the first day (to saturate the body with magnesium and potassium salts), 4-5 Asparkam tablets should be taken. They are ground into powder and dissolved in 100 ml of warm water. In the next 2-4 weeks, you need to take 1-2 tablets of "Asparkam" daily. It is advisable to introduce seaweed into the diet.
- On the first day, drink at least 1.5 liters of Borjomi, Luzhanskaya, Dilijan, Essentuki No. 4, Essentuki No. 17 or Arzni mineral waters. If there is no mineral water, 4-10 g of soda is dissolved in 1.5 liters of ordinary warm boiled water. The liquid must be drunk during the day, and in one gulp you cannot drink more than a glass, so as not to induce vomiting. In the next 2-4 weeks, you should drink at least 2-3 liters of non-carbonated water per day.
- In addition to water, it is recommended to drink diuretic preparations, teas with lingonberry leaves, birch buds.
- Take vitamin C tablets for at least a month (according to the instructions).
- To restore neurotransmitter processes in the cerebral cortex, take glycine for 2-4 weeks. During this period, khash, jelly, aspic dishes are very useful.
- Enrich the diet with boiled meat, fish (fried foods create a load on the liver). To replenish protein, eat legumes, walnuts, hazelnuts.
Such methods help with withdrawal syndrome, and with the consequences of alcohol intoxication. As a rule, the patient becomes much better after 1-2 days of procedures. For the entire period of treatment you need to give up alcohol.
One of the most common diseases of our time is. For some reason, a person begins to drink, and then can no longer stop, turning into an alcoholic. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis leads to physiological and psychological disorders in the human body.
One of the extremely unpleasant consequences of alcoholism is alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
After prolonged use of alcoholic beverages, a person may develop. It occurs in the II and III stages of alcoholism. The reason for the appearance of the syndrome is the cessation of the intake of alcohol into the patient's body (after binge) or a decrease in its amount.
This syndrome should not be confused with the well-known hangover. In a healthy person who has exceeded the norm of alcohol, in the morning there is:
- Strong headache.
- Nausea (sometimes vomiting).
However, by noon his condition returned to normal. With withdrawal symptoms, symptoms appear much longer - from 3 to 5 days.
The cause of both these conditions is the same: the accumulation of alcohol breakdown products in the cells of the body.
People with alcoholism may have the following symptoms in addition to those mentioned above:
- Disruption of the brain.
- Improper functioning of the liver.
- Problems in the work of the heart.
- Difficulties with the pancreas.
- Deterioration of the blood vessels.
- Increased heart rate and respiration.
- Sometimes fever and chills.
- Problems with coordination of movements.
- Decreased muscle tone.
- Diarrhea and vomiting.
- Haemorrhoids.
- Insomnia.
- Nightmares.
- In some cases, convulsions.
Withdrawal syndrome can cause psychosis or delirium tremens, which can only be managed with the help of specialists.
This condition is treated both at home and in the clinic, there are a number. With mild intoxication, the patient can try to help at home. In case of severe alcohol intoxication, you should consult a specialist.
You can try to cope with the syndrome without resorting to the help of a narcologist, subject to the following conditions:
- The drinking lasted no more than a week.
- The previous binge was not earlier than 3 months ago.
- The patient is under 60 years of age.
- The patient has no chronic diseases and mental disorders.
- A person suffers from alcoholism for no more than 5 years.
- The patient is neither obese nor malnourished.
To help the sick at home, you should perform a set of measures:
Low-alcohol drinks should not be drunk, as this will lead to intensification, intoxication and the appearance of persistent alcohol dependence.
Treatment results
If the patient managed to get rid of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, his mental activity can be restored. The time required for this depends on the severity of the syndrome and the duration of the disease. In such situations, alcoholic personality deformation is a temporary phenomenon.
However, in some cases, the symptoms of this syndrome can be cured, and mental distortions persist. Then it is customary to talk about the alcoholic degradation of the patient's personality.
The most important prophylactic against the appearance of withdrawal syndrome is moderation when drinking alcoholic beverages.
In addition, there are a few more rules that reduce the possibility of its occurrence:
- Drink the least toxic drinks. Their toxicity is determined by the degree of impact on the human liver. The least toxic brandy, vodka, most dry grape wines. Then come various types of semi-sweet wines, ports and vermouths. The human body tolerates them much worse. The most detrimental effect is exerted by various combined drinks. It should be remembered that with excessive use of any alcohol-containing drinks, both the liver and the cardiovascular system will suffer.
- Availability of plentiful snacks. The most effective food containing a lot of protein or fiber (various meats, vegetables, salads). It is good to eat sweets, because alcohol leads to a sharp decrease in blood sugar.
- Pre-medication. Before a feast, you can drink an aspirin tablet or several activated charcoal tablets; a drug such as Smecta is well suited for this purpose.
- Providing the body with fluid. After taking alcoholic beverages, you should drink 2-3 glasses of water, since alcohol contributes to the violation of the water balance in the body.
If the withdrawal syndrome was defeated, this does not mean that such a situation will not happen again.
Therefore, you need to start treatment for alcoholism, for which you need to seek help from a narcologist. This must be done, since alcoholism leads to the degradation of the individual.
What's happened alcohol withdrawal syndrome or withdrawal from alcoholism? This is a complex of somatic, neurological and mental disorders that occur in a person with alcoholism after the cessation of alcohol consumption or a sharp decrease in the doses used. These symptoms are eliminated or alleviated only by drinking.
This condition should not be confused with a common hangover. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurs only when. This condition confirms that a person is an alcoholic. Experts say that the withdrawal syndrome is the main and irrefutable sign that a person is addicted to alcohol and needs serious treatment, as well as the help of experienced psychologists.
It is worth distinguishing between abstinence syndrome. With a typical hangover, a person has a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and hand tremors. After a few hours, these symptoms disappear. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are more severe and may last for 3-5 days. The reason for this state of affairs is that the body accumulates a large amount of toxins, products of the breakdown of ethanol in the blood. In chronic alcoholism, alcohol begins to take an active part in the metabolism, and without it a person can no longer live normally. He will feel better only after drinking small doses of alcohol.
The main symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are:
- decrease or increase in pressure;
- dizziness and impaired coordination of movements;
- diarrhea and nausea;
- weakness in the legs and tremor of the hands;
- poor appetite or lack of it;
- pale complexion;
- depression;
- pronounced anxiety and psychosis.
The patient may have an increased pulse, shortness of breath, an increase in body temperature and fever. A person ceases to behave adequately, the mind gets confused, he is tormented by insomnia, and during sleep there are nightmares, hallucinations during periods of awakening. He can be a danger to himself and others.
Symptoms may appear depending on the stages of the withdrawal syndrome:
- Uncomplicated withdrawal state- the patient wants to drink alcohol, there is a tremor of the tongue, eyelids or outstretched arms, sweating increases, nausea and vomiting occur, heart palpitations, arterial hypertension, severe agitation, headache, insomnia, a feeling of weakness, short-term visual, tactile, auditory hallucinations or illusions, depression or apathy.
- Withdrawal state with convulsive seizures- there are the same symptoms as in uncomplicated withdrawal syndrome, but they are joined by more pronounced convulsive seizures.
- Withdrawal state with- the same symptoms are observed as in uncomplicated withdrawal with a severe psychotic state, which occur with clouding of consciousness, hallucinations, delirium, agitation and other somatic disorders.
Treatment of withdrawal symptoms in alcoholism
Stopping alcohol withdrawal is the elimination of all the symptoms of a serious condition of the patient with the help of individually selected drugs. At the beginning, the patient undergoes a comprehensive diagnosis, then the doctor selects medications for him. Each type of treatment is prescribed strictly, based on the expressed symptoms and the presence of concomitant diseases in the patient.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is treated with drip intravenous infusions of hemodez, reopoliglyukin, 5% glucose. Injections of thiol preparations (unithiol, sodium thiosulfate), as well as large doses of B vitamins, pyridoxine, vitamin C can be used. Osmotic diuretics are used: urea, mannitol, urogluc. This is necessary for accelerated oxidation and elimination of decay products from the body, especially large doses of acetaldehyde.
Alcohol withdrawal treatment also includes the use of psychotropic and other drugs. In case of strong agitation and anxiety, it is indicated relanium, sonapax, chlorprothixen, rispolept, and if anxiety is combined with depression - amitriptyline or coaxil. For good sleep you need to take reladorm or radedorm with phenazepam. With strong autonomic disorders (sweating, chills, palpitations), apply grandaxin or pyrroxane. If the patient has severe dreams at the time of falling asleep or waking up and hallucinations, it is necessary to take drug tizercin. With pronounced dysphoria with aggression, it is indicated reception of neuleptil.
How to remove the withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism? All patients are prescribed B vitamins, 50-100 mg of thiamine every day for a week. Since alcohol withdrawal occurs in the presence of normal or increased levels of hydration, fluid therapy is not indicated except in cases of hypotension, severe bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The relief of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism does not cure, which can remain strong and stable for a long time, and increase sharply in a certain period. After relief of withdrawal symptoms, treatment is indicated, including sessions with a psychotherapist.
Treatment of withdrawal symptoms at home
Alcohol withdrawal treatment can be done at home. The pharmacy freely sells the drug Medichronal. It quickly removes alcohol from the body and eliminates severe symptoms. The drug is available in the form of two sachets. The medicine must be dissolved in water and drunk. You need to take Medichronal for 2-3 days.
To quickly cope with withdrawal symptoms, you need to get enough sleep. For this, tranquilizers are prescribed: phenazepam, Relanium and others. But you can use them only under the supervision of a doctor, as they are addictive, and in a pharmacy they are not sold without a prescription. You can use other sedatives on your own: Persen, Sonix or valerian extract. They improve sleep and quickly eliminate severe symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
It is good to drink decoctions of motherwort, a sedative collection. They have a mild effect and quickly eliminate the withdrawal syndrome.
To get rid of the symptoms of anxiety, anxiety, decreased heart rate, you can take valocardin or Corvalol in a double dose: 40 drops 2 times a day, glycine 2 tablets 3 times a day.
With alcoholism, there is a lack of vitamins in the body, especially B vitamins, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, protection against alcoholic polyneuropathy. It is necessary to take neuromultivit 1 tablet 3 times a day or milgamma, as well as vitamin C in an increased dose. It is useful to drink decoctions of mint, rose hips, chamomile, mineral water with lemon juice and salt, fresh juices from orange, apples, tomatoes, carrots.
After taking the medicine, you must definitely eat well to restore the strength of the body. Best of all helps chicken broth or soup on rice, vegetables. It is useful to drink fermented milk products, they contain acid and neutralize alcohol in the body. To replenish strength, it is recommended to eat more cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits: buckwheat, oatmeal, potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, herbs, oranges and lemons.
It is strictly forbidden to get drunk. Even small doses of alcohol can provoke a breakdown and the person will again go into. Any low-alcohol drinks and beer are prohibited. In no case do not succumb to the persuasion of an alcoholic, do not indulge his weakness, as he will suffer and start drinking again in large doses.
Treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms at home can be dangerous in some cases. With the wrong selection of drugs, serious harm to the health of the patient can be caused. In severe stages of alcohol withdrawal a person can be a danger to himself and others. He has severe mental disorders, delusions and hallucinations. In such a state, it will be difficult for relatives to cope with the patient. It is best to immediately send a person to a hospital, where he will be selected for individual treatment and psychotherapy. Under the supervision of a competent narcologist, the patient will quickly return to normal and will be able to receive adequate therapy for alcoholism.
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