Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome
| Time of appearance after cessation | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| 6–12 hours | Minor withdrawal symptoms: insomnia, tremulousness, mild anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, headache, diaphoresis, palpitations, anorexia |
| 12–24 hoursa | Alcoholic hallucinosis: visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations |
| 24–48 hoursb | Withdrawal seizures: generalized tonic-clonic seizures |
| 48–72 hoursc | Alcohol withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens): hallucinations (mainly visual), disorientation, tachycardia, hypertension, low-grade fever, agitation, diaphoresis |
↵a Symptoms generally resolve within 48 hours.
↵b Symptoms reported as early as 2 hours after cessation.
↵c Symptoms as late as 5 days.
From Bayard M, McIntyre J, Hill KR, Woodside J, Jr. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Am Fam Physician 2004; 69:1443–1450. Reproduced with permission from the American Academy of Family Physicians.