You may also need to get tested for other medical problems that could be connected to your alcohol abuse. Moving forward, you may also need to go to patient and family counseling to discuss your alcoholism. Symptoms of DTs tend to begin soon after you stop drinking alcohol and can happen abruptly. Because of this, it’s best to talk to your doctor before stopping alcohol use. They can help you set up a plan to manage your alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

If you are thinking about quitting drinking, talk to your healthcare provider. Medical supervision, behavioral health treatment, and mutual-aid groups can help you through alcohol withdrawal and stay stopped. Behavioral treatment programs are helpful for people who want to quit drinking. These programs involve working with a team of mental health professionals in a group and individual setting. People with alcohol use disorder should be monitored by a medical professional when withdrawing from alcohol.

Support Groups

Many of those recovering from substance use feel alone in their struggle for sobriety. The more people in your personal network that you trust to support your journey, the more likely you are to be successful. Because DT is so dangerous, those who develop signs of the condition during withdrawal should be immediately put under medical care.

This type of tremor typically involves rhythmic shaking in the hands, trouble writing or drawing, difficulty using utensils, a shaky voice, and more symptoms. Your liver neutralizes acetaldehyde with a substance it makes called glutathione. You may be concerned about having DTs symptoms or nervous about seeking treatment. Your doctor and other providers shaking from alcohol aren’t there to judge you but to help manage your symptoms and improve your chances of recovery. Doctors may also check your liver, heart, nerves in your feet, and your digestive system to figure out the level of alcohol damage to your body. In the below video, our medical director, Dr. Calarco, explains how alcohol can cause shakes and tremors.

Treatment

It is always recommended that alcohol withdrawal takes place as part of a medically assisted withdrawal detoxification process, so that the right care and support can be provided when it is needed. Alcohol shakes, also known as ‘alcohol tremors’ are a sign of alcohol withdrawal, where the part of your brain controlling your muscles reacts to the alcohol leaving your body. While alcoholic shakes may be a common condition for those struggling with alcohol addiction or long-term alcohol use, they’re not something to be taken lightly. We’ve already covered the seriousness of delirium tremens, but even if the shakes haven’t progressed to that level, they’re still a clear indication that alcohol use is affecting your body negatively. Stress and anxiety can increase the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It helps to keep busy with activities you find enjoyable and that promote health and well-being.

• You don’t have to have struggled with alcohol for years or be dealing with a severe addiction to suffer the shakes.
• These symptoms of a hangover are very frequent after a night of drinking.
• Alcoholic drinks have a depressant effect, and this inhibits the functions of the neurotransmitter which partially numbs the body, leading to that feeling of intoxication.

It is generally prescribed to treat muscle spasticity in those suffering from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. Although it is not a narcotic, there are still possible side effects, which could be severe. While studies have shown baclofen may be effective in reducing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including tremors, it is an “off-label” use of the drug at this time. Heavy alcohol consumption causes changes in brain chemistry, slowing brain activity and reducing energy levels. To overcome the sedative effect of alcohol, the brain responds by increasing nerve activity to keep the body in a heightened state of alertness.

Why it happens

DTs is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. When a person with a chronic alcohol use disorder (AUD) quits or reduces their alcohol intake abruptly, they may experience a wide range of alcohol withdrawal symptoms within six hours after their last drink. One of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is alcohol shakes, also known as alcohol tremors.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that functions as a regulator for the nerve cells in the body; this means that everything related to bodily coordination is controlled by this system. Alcoholic drinks have a depressant effect, and this inhibits the functions of the neurotransmitter which partially numbs the body, leading to that feeling of intoxication. For dedicated drinkers, this is highly problematic as the brain has adapted to the constant presence of ethanol in the body to maintain fairly constant homeostasis. If you feel like you’re going to vomit, it’s best to let it happen naturally. You’ll retch less and reduce your risk for additional health problems that can happen when you make yourself throw up.

Behavioral health treatment for alcohol problems is often (but not always) covered by insurance. In the United States, most states have low-cost or free rehabilitation programs for those who are uninsured. There are many support options available that can help guide you through alcohol withdrawal, as well as abstaining from alcohol after withdrawal. For people at low risk of complications, an office visit to your primary care provider, along with at-home monitoring and virtual office visits, may suffice. People at high risk of complications should enter a short-term in-patient detox program.

To reduce your stress during withdrawal, try doing some light exercise, like going for a walk or riding your bike. You might also try journaling or spending some time with a supportive friend. Mindful meditation is another great way to reduce your anxiety and help prevent cravings and future relapses. To learn how to find an inpatient detox center, read more from our Medical co-author. The first thing you should do after seeking immediate medical attention for the alcohol shakes is to undergo detox treatment.

While you can usually manage alcohol withdrawal syndrome on your own, it can be quite uncomfortable. Plus, in some cases, it can involve more severe symptoms, like mental confusion, hallucinations, or seizures. They occur due to alcohol’s effects on the body and how it interacts with the nervous system. The two main causes of alcohol shakes are alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol-related brain damage. Experiencing hangover hands shake arises when someone stops drinking after a long period of frequent or heavy alcohol use.