This article will cover what you need to know about delirium tremens and how to survive it. The key factor in whether DTs is reversible lies in timely intervention. The brain and body’s stress response during severe withdrawal can be mitigated when a specialized medical team intervenes early with the right medications, supportive measures and monitoring. Once acute symptoms subside and the individual recovers, ongoing care—including psychotherapy, support groups and rehabilitation—helps maintain sobriety and reduce the risk of future withdrawal crises. Delirium Tremens, also known as DTs, is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It typically occurs in individuals who have been consuming excessive amounts of alcohol for a prolonged period and suddenly stop or significantly reduce their alcohol intake.
- This may get worse in 24 to 72 hours and may last up to 3 to 8 days.
- Reassurance, hydration with fluids and electrolytes, and monitoring vital signs are essential to supportive care.
- Sometimes alcohol withdrawal is mild and includes symptoms such as tremor, headache, and upset stomach, which pass within a few days, according to the Industrial Psychiatry Journal.
- In severe deficiency, the deficit is about 1-2 mEq/kg of body weight.
Condition Spotlight
Diagnosis tests include physical examinations, medical history, lab tests, and even standardized checklists like the Clinical Institute for Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Revised Scale. If you are considering quitting alcohol, seeking medical advice and professional help becomes necessary. DTS is characterized by delirium, anxiety, agitation, cognitive changes, and hallucinations.
Chronic and Heavy Alcohol Use
A person may experience auditory and visual hallucinations, tremors, nausea, and vomiting. According to the CDC, 17% of adults binge drink, and 7% are into heavy drinking, making DTs a common issue. The condition involves hallucinations, loss of awareness, cold sweat, shaking, fever, and seizures.
When to See a Doctor for Delirium Tremens?
Delirium tremens is an extremely dangerous condition that affects those who have long-term histories of alcohol misuse or who drug addiction are in the late stage of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Of that population, more than 50% exhibit alcohol withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing or decreasing their alcohol use. The lifetime risk for developing DTs in this population is approximately 5-10%.
Delirium Tremens: Causes and Treatment Care
Mortality was as high as 35% prior to the era of intensive care and advanced pharmacotherapy. The most common conditions leading to death in patients with DTs are respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. Yet, the risk of death remains, often due to complications arising from concurrent alcohol-related conditions such as hepatitis, aspiration pneumonia, and fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
Since alcohol causes sedation to the nervous system, an abrupt loss of this chemical can cause over-excitability in the brain and trigger severe physical symptoms. The first signs of delirium tremens are irritability, tremors, cognitive changes, hallucinations, and severe confusion or delirium. As per the “2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH),” nearly 28.9 million Americans suffer What is Delirium Tremens from alcohol use disorder.
Delirium Tremens: A Serious Condition That Requires Immediate Attention
If you or someone you love is at risk of delirium tremens, it is important to seek professional help right away. At The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, our team of medical professionals is equipped to manage the complexities of alcohol withdrawal safely. We provide a supportive environment where you can detox under medical supervision and begin a structured path toward long-term sobriety.
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- What differentiates simple withdrawal hallucinations from delirium tremens and hallucinations is that someone who has hallucinations without delirium tremens will recognize that the hallucinations are not real.
- This article explores what delirium tremens is, who’s at risk, the warning signs, and how treatment can save lives.
The pathophysiology behind DTs is multifactorial, involving neurotransmitter changes, withdrawal of a central nervous system depressant (alcohol) and potential comorbidities like infection or trauma. Understanding these causes and risk factors is essential for healthcare professionals, as it informs the design of personalized withdrawal management plans. The onset of these symptoms is often abrupt, but the most severe manifestations (e.g., delusions, extreme agitation) tend to reach their peak a few days after they begin. Because delirium tremens can escalate quickly and lead to serious complications like seizures, heart arrhythmias or respiratory failure, seeking immediate medical attention is critical.
