How Long Do Alcohol Tremors Last

Have you ever had a frightening experience and found your hands were shaking afterward? Or maybe one day you hadn’t eaten quite enough and your body was shaking slightly in response? Our bodies can shake for my reasons. Small tremors in our hands aren’t that uncommon, but did you know that alcohol can cause tremors too? What exactly causes alcohol tremors? How long do alcohol tremors last?

Here in New Mexico, 1 in every 7 adults binge drinks. This means you might know someone who regularly consumes alcohol or who has been impacted by alcohol tremors before.  At Shadow Mountain Recovery, we know how common alcohol use is, and we want to provide educational information regarding it. Having access to informative articles about substance and alcohol use can help people make decisions about their health down the road. Today we’re going to look at alcohol tremors, how you can manage them, and what they can mean for your health.

How Should You Handle Alcohol Tremors?

Alcohol tremors occur when someone is going through withdrawal from alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when the body has adjusted to having alcohol in its system, whether from binge drinking or long-term drinking. The symptoms of withdrawal can occur as soon as 6 hours after your last drink.

If you notice that you start having shaky hands or overall tremors when you stop drinking, you could be going through withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal can be severe and life-altering. If you start noticing other symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, nausea, headaches, and confusion – be aware that more severe symptoms could be around the corner. There’s no shame in calling for medical help, especially when it could save a life.

If I Have an AUD – Can I Reduce Alcohol Tremors?

Over 14.8 million people in the United States are diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). For those with an AUD, alcohol tremors can be a common sign of withdrawal. Is there a way to manage them, though?

One of the triggers for withdrawal can be excess or binge drinking (we’ll touch on that in a moment). Another trigger can be trying to quit drinking cold turkey.

If you’ve experienced alcohol withdrawal before, your chances of experiencing it again in the future aren’t low. In fact, one of the risk factors for more severe alcohol withdrawal is your history of withdrawal. One of the best ways to reduce tremors is to slowly reduce the number of drinks you consume. This task isn’t always easy, however, as one of the common stipulations of an AUD is the inability to cut back on consumption on your own. That’s where a rehab facility like Shadow Mountain Recovery can help.

How Much Alcohol Do You Have to Drink to Get Alcohol Tremors?

Alcohol withdrawal can occur after binge drinking. You might ask then – how many drinks are classified as binge drinking?

The way alcohol is processed in the body directly impacts how many drinks it takes to make you drunk, and how many drinks are too many. Generally speaking, due to the difference in metabolism between men and women, men can drink slightly more than women before it’s considered binge drinking. So for women, more than 4 drinks in one sitting are considered binge drinking, but for men, it’s 5 drinks.

One drink is considered to be:

  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 8 ounces of malt liquor
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor

Delirium Tremens – Signs, Symptoms, and More

When going through withdrawal, there are many symptoms that you can experience. One of these symptoms is known as delirium tremens. If you haven’t heard of it before, you might think it’s a different progression of tremors, but it’s more than that. In fact, it’s considered to be one of the more severe developments of withdrawal.

Are you at risk of experiencing delirium tremens? Not everyone who goes through withdrawal will experience the more severe alcohol side effects. When it comes to delirium tremens, you’re at higher risk of experiencing them if you have a history of heavy alcohol consumption, you’ve experienced delirium tremens in the past, or you’ve experienced withdrawal seizures in the past.

Here are some symptoms of delirium tremens:

  • Confusion
  • Body tremors
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • High body temps and sweating
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures

If you start noticing these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it’s important to call for help. This combination of symptoms can lead to you getting hurt, permanently injured, or worse.

If you notice someone experiencing a seizure from withdrawal, there are a few steps you should take. If you haven’t already called for medical help, do so. Next, make sure you clear the area around the person in order to ensure they don’t hurt themselves. Do NOT try to hold them down in any way. If you can, find a flat object like a folded blanket or jacket to put under their head to help cushion it. Time the seizure. If it lasts longer than 5 minutes, this can be serious. Inform the paramedics of how long the seizure lasts, and let them know if they had more than one.

Recovery and Treatment Services for Alcoholism in New Mexico

If you’re looking for help in your recovery from alcohol use disorder, Shadow Mountain is here for you. We understand that everyone’s journey to healing is as unique as their starting point. Whether you want to alleviate your withdrawal symptoms or get your life back on track, we’re ready to assist. Our licensed and compassionate medical staff is trained in helping you on your recovery journey.

Across our locations here in New Mexico, we cover the whole spectrum of healing. From detox to inpatient and outpatient, our facilities are specialized in helping you reach your goals. We offer gender-specific healing for those who need it, family programs for those who are looking to heal and mend relationships, and many other options.

We firmly believe that there isn’t a set recipe for recovering from alcoholism. That’s why we offer many, evidence-based alternatives to the 12-step method. You’re not a cookie-cutter person, so your treatment program shouldn’t be either.

If you or a loved one wants to learn about how to get started on your treatment program here at Shadow Mountain, don’t hesitate to give us a call today at 505-657-2117.

FAQs About How Long Do Alcohol Tremors Last

If you experience tremors after you stop drinking, this is a sign of withdrawal.

When your body is used to having alcohol, the sudden loss of it can send you into withdrawal. This impacts many areas of your body, including your motor control, which can lead to shakiness.

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