He was excited and easily startled, frightened, sweaty, had a rapid pulse, and he couldn't stand still with his eyes closed and his arms outstretched. His blood pressure was up a bit and he was mildly feverish. His pupils were tiny. Several causes of such symptoms were ruled out, he didn't have pneumonia, head injury, lack of magnesium or phosphate, or a low blood sugar. While he was in the X-ray department, he had two generalized seizures in quick succession and vomited once, but did not inhale the vomit.
Seizures occur in a third of alcohol withdrawal patients.
They are usually generalized, self limited, and single or occur in a short series. This is better than paraldehyde, an old ER remedy. He was watched to make sure he was not over sedated. He did well. Diagnosis and treatment is not always that straightforward.