Delirium tremens or “alcoholic madness”

If you or someone close to you fight alcohol abuse, there is one essential thing that you should keep in mind – the crisis of alcoholics, which is a very unpleasant process and can be dangerous or even lethal. One of the most dangerous complications is the condition known as delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening.

In this blog, we reveal everything you‘ve wanted to know but had no-one to ask. Keep in mind that timely treatment is crucial and prevents much more considerable damage and more severe consequences.

What is delirium tremens and what causes it?

People who are long-term alcohol addicts are at risk of a condition known as withdrawal or crisis. It occurs in a variety of addictions, but it has its own specificities, depending on the type of substance. In particular, with alcoholism, some symptoms are barely noticeable while others are severe. Moreover, some appear in a few hours, while others take several days. The most difficult form one can come to is delirium tremens, which entails serious physical and psychological problems.

It is widely known that drinking copious amounts of alcohol for a long time damages your brain. In particular, alcohol interferes with the ability to regulate essential processes in the brain, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. They have opposite effects in the brain: while glutamate leads to excitation of brain cells, GABA has an inhibitory effect.

The effect of GABA in the brain is enhanced to match the amount of alcohol consumed over time. When you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, the brain can easily become overly excited because it is hypersensitive to glutamate, and there is not enough GABA to calm down the brain. This excessive excitement can lead to unpleasant symptoms of the crisis, including delirium tremens.

Delirium tremens – Symptoms

Symptoms of delirium tremens can begin to appear already 48 hours after the last drink and generally occur within the first 72 hours. However, in some cases, they can occur within ten days. Typical symptoms include hallucinations, confusion, agitation, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, fever, sweating. If you suspect that you or someone close to you is experiencing this unpleasant condition, it is critical that you immediately seek medical attention, as waiting may lead to a fatal outcome.

Treatment of delirium tremens at Dr Vorobjev clinic

Timely treatment of delirium tremens is crucial, because without it, a person is at great risk of death. Hospitalization and hospital care are necessary so that all changes can be monitored and treated.

The right place where you will be provided by constant care is our Dr Vorobjev clinic. The clinic is very successful in treating addiction and psychological problems. Particularly standing out is the treatment of alcohol addiction, which helps you beat alcoholism and overcome all its consequences.

We own state-of-the-art medical devices, and our top experts have a vast experience when it comes to the most successful methods and procedures for treating addiction.

With our support, recovery is a step away from you, so choose the best – Dr Vorobjev clinic.