Understanding Delirium Tremens

What Is Delirium Tremens

Delirium tremens is a state of delirium caused by alcohol withdrawal or abstinence. It only occurs in chronic drinkers and is manifested through a high degree of agitation (the patient can even become violent), confusion, hallucinations, usually visual (disturbing images of insects, bats, rats, snakes and other similar pictures) that can sometimes be associated with tactile hallucinations (a distinct feeling that something is crawling on the patient’s skin), very strong and uncontrollable shaking and a severe psychiatric condition (anxiety attacks, paranoia, delusion). Of course not all of these signs are present, but only a part of them. Typically, delirium tremens occurs within the first day after the patient has stopped drinking, but there are cases when this sort of disorder occurs even three days afterwards.

Some Facts About Delirium Tremens

As men tend to be the most heavy drinkers, they are the ones most affected by delirium tremens. This trend has been altering during the last decade as more women began to drink. There is an estimated ratio of five to one between the males and females who have suffered a delirium tremens episode. What is not very commonly acknowledged id the fact that delirium tremens can kill. There is an estimated one chance in three for someone to die, if the patient suffers a delirium tremens attack and does not receive proper medication, that chance drops to one in twenty if medication is received. Typically this disorder is manifested in more elderly adults, with the peak age group being between 35 and 40 for men and slightly higher for women (as they usually begin consuming larger quantities of alcohol later in their life). About a tenth of all heavy drinkers suffer this condition. These statistics, no matter how grim they are, apply though only to delirium tremens caused by alcohol withdrawal. There is also alcoholic hallucinosis, which is a different state altogether and is caused by a large concentration of alcohol in organism and which is less fatal

What Causes Delirium Tremens And How Can It Be Fought

Delirium tremens occurs due to the perceived unbalance in the body. Alcohol consumption increases the quantity of a certain group of neurotransmitters, while the receptors become less sensitive to them. This occurs in order to maintain a balance in the body. When the alcohol intoxication stops, the quantity of these neurotransmitters suddenly drops, but the receptors remain highly insensitive. So what can be done to fight delirium tremens? The first thing a patient must do is put himself under medical control. If the abstinence is begun under medical supervision, the chance of developing delirium tremens drops radically as there is medication that can help. Also, a healthier way of life (regular sleep, proper diet, proper vitamin intake) can also diminish the chance further still. Even if delirium tremens occurs, if the patient is under medical supervision, the symptoms will be less drastic and the mortality rate drops to an insignificant amount. The medication used consists of sedatives from the category of benzodiazepines (Valium being the most common of them) and in rare cases anti-psychotic drugs. There are however several approaches which can decrease the intensity of the crises, especially the intensity of the hallucinogenic episodes. A bright room, without much decoration can help. The most effective way of combating delirium tremens though is prevention and prevention can only be done with the help of doctors. Programmed alcohol withdrawal in a specialized clinic can be treated in such a fashion that the occurrence of delirium tremens is greatly decreased and when it happens the symptoms are also much less aggravated. The bottom line is that if you decide to stop drinking, do it in a controlled environment. The transition will be easier, there will be other people which have passed through what you are passing willing to help and you will face lower risks.

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