The alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a cluster of symptoms observed in persons who stop drinking alcohol following continuous and heavy consumption. Milder forms of the syndrome include tremulousness, seizures, and hallucinations, typically occurring within 6-48 hours after the last drink.
Estimates vary on the incidence of serious consequences of alcohol withdrawal.
In a classic study that has shaped our understanding of alcohol withdrawal for many years, Isbell et al. In a recent study that looked primarily at seizures, Ng et al. Thus, ethanol acts as a nonspecific biochemical inhibitor of activity in the central nervous system. Such changes can result in overactivation of the central nervous system when alcohol is withdrawn. Even patients with moderately severe alcohol withdrawal can experience sympathetic nervous system overactivity and increased production of the adrenal hormones cortisol and norepinephrine.