Why Alcohol Shakes and Tremors Happen
Experiencing involuntary shaking, commonly referred to as alcohol shakes or tremors, is a scary symptom that someone might experience after alcohol use. Understanding the underlying causes of these tremors can help someone address the issues that alcohol dependence may be causing in their life. In this blog, we will look at why alcohol shakes and tremors happen and how you might find help in South Carolina.
If you or a loved one need an environment to help from alcohol addiction, consider the sober living homes offered at The Sanctuary Recovery Foundation. Contact us to learn more about our proven track record of helping people find a sober and fulfilling life.
Causes of Alcohol Shakes
Alcohol Withdrawal
Using alcohol depresses the nervous system. When you suddenly stop using alcohol, your nervous system jumps into high gear and becomes hyperactive. This can cause tremors.
Impact on the Nervous System
When you use alcohol for a very long time, it can damage the brain and nervous system. This can cause the communication between the brain and the muscles to be less effective. In turn, this causes involuntary shaking, especially in the hands.
Liver Disease
Alcohol abuse over time can lead to liver disease, which in its final stages has a very specific type of hand tremor known as asterixis. This is a type of hand movement that looks more like a flapping motion than a shake.
Recognizing the Signs of Tremors
Tremors will begin about 5 to 10 hours after the alcoholic’s last drink but can last for up to several weeks, depending on how bad the withdraws are. You may notice the shakes in the hands, but actually the tremors can appear all over the body. You may also experience anxiety, sweating, nausea, and irritability.
When to Seek Professional Help for Shakes
If you have other symptoms, such as hallucinations, confusion, seizures, or more, you should go to the emergency room immediately. When you find that you are experiencing mild symptoms after drinking excessively for some time, you should reach out to professionals. This could be your doctor or even a sober living home like The Sanctuary Foundation.
Treatment for Alcohol Shakes
Alcohol tremors may be a sign of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which is very dangerous, if you experience any kind of tremors or shakes, you should reach out to a doctor immediately. A doctor will have access to many treatments that you can try, including detoxing from alcohol safely. You should never try to detox from alcohol alone.
Some treatments doctors might use during detox to help with tremors are: benzodiazepines, which can also help with seizure activity in the brain. Thiamine so that you can avoid developing WKS and reduce your shakes. And a beta blocker called Propranolol which reduces tremors.
Reach Out For Help From Sanctuary Foundation
Understanding the causes and implications of alcohol shakes is an important step to understanding that you might have an alcohol dependency. If you or a loved one are in this situation, you should seek appropriate help. Are you ready to live a sober lifestyle in an environment surrounded by peers who understand what you are going through? The Sanctuary Foundation sober living environment might be for you, reach out today to find out more.
