Delirium tremens - Symptom

Alternative Names

DTs; Alcohol withdrawal - delirium tremens

Symptoms:

Symptoms most often occur within 72 hours after the last drink. However, they may occur up to 7 - 10 days after the last drink.

Symptoms may get worse quickly, and can include:

Body tremors
Changes in mental function
- Agitation, irritability
- Confusion, disorientation
- Decreased attention span
- Deep sleep that lasts for a day or longer
- Delirium
- Excitement
- Fear
- Hallucinations (seeing or feeling things that are not really there)
- Increased activity
- Quick mood changes
- Restlessness, excitement
- Sensitivity to light, sound, touch
- Stupor, sleepiness, fatigue
Seizures
- Most common in first 12 - 48 hours after last drink
- Most common in people with past complications from alcohol withdrawal
- Usually generalized tonic-clonic seizures
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Fatigue
- Feeling jumpy or nervous
- Feeling shaky
- Headache
- Insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep)
- Irritability or excitability
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Pale skin
- Palpitations (sensation of feeling the heart beat)
- Rapid emotional changes
- Sweating, especially on the palms of the hands or the face
- Vomiting

Other symptoms that may occur:

Signs and tests:

Delirium tremens is a medical emergency.

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Signs may include:

Heavy sweating
Increased startle reflex
Irregular heartbeat
Problems with eye muscle movement
Rapid heart rate
Rapid muscle tremors

The following tests may be done:

Reviewed last on: 3/20/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

O'Connor PG. Alcohol abuse and dependence. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 31.

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Delirium tremens - Symptom

Alternative Names

Symptoms:

Signs and tests:

References

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