how long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?

Hi, I've been having some weird symptoms and I can't determine whether they're alcohol withdrawal or not. I think they probably are, but would really appreciate some advice.

Drinking heavily most days for about 2 years (1-2 bottles wine or equivalent), and heavily at weekends before that. I'm 30.

I've been feeling generally weird for quite a while - anxiety, palpitations - and have been to the doctors for all sorts of tests (blood work, ECG, chest X-ray), but they couldn't find anything wrong - although he did say my liver enzymes were slightly elevated - tell-tale sign, I guess  He said it was so slight it was nothing to worry about, but obviously the addendum there is "yet". I expected the symptoms were connected to my alcohol intake, so I stopped for about 5 days, and the symptoms did all improve.

I took my blood pressure on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th days, and it was really good - about 110/75, sometimes even down to 95/70. Resting heart rate good too - 65bpm. I don't do that much exercise, so I thought that looked good. 

Anyway, on the 6th day, I drank some - nothing too excessive, 4 beers and a vodka soda, over about 12 hours. Felt fine, went to bed, woke up, still felt fine. I made some coffee, and I probably did over do it - about 3 strong large cups - and as a result started to feel weird and jittery.

When the feelings hadn't worn off that evening, I decided to have a glass of wine to sort of "neutralise" the coffee. I only had a few sips, when I started to feel awful - nauseous, light-headed, anxious etc. I tried to drink through it, but couldn't even manage the whole second glass.

I decided to take my blood pressure again, and it was 135/112! I totally freaked out and nearly called an ambulance, as I know 110+ is potentially fatal. I tried to calm down and took it a few hours later, when it was around 120/90.

So that was on Tuesday, about 48 hours ago. I haven't drunk any alcohol (or coffee) since, but my blood pressure readings are still high - the systolic (top number) seems okay, never really tops 130, but the diastolic is averaging 90-100 (fortunately it's never gone over 110 again).

My chest feels really tight, so I keep thinking I'm going to drop dead of a heart attack, although no palpitations so far, and my resting heart rate seems okay (between 60s and 80s depending on how anxious I am when I take it).

I don't really have any other physical symptoms - no shakes, sweats, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia etc. Just tight chest, high blood pressure, and anxiety.

Is this alcohol withdrawal? Why did the coffee set off the symptoms? Should I go to the ER, or am I passed the danger period? (Last drink over 48 hours ago)

Anyone who's been through the same or can offer me any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Well, I'm still beer free. I did have a glass of wine at Thanksgiving, but I would have prefered not to. I made a rule for myself to never stock beer or wine in the house. On a special occasion, I will have a glass of wine, as long as it's not at home, and it's only one. Beer is still a no-no for me, as I know that was my achilles heel.
Has it really been since August? Wow.

My advise is first to ask God for help and second to see a medical professional anytime you have concerns. On the spiritual side ..there is a series of teaching from Joyce Meyer ..Where The Mind Goes The Man Follows. What are you thinking on? Ask The Lord to help you have His thoughts..Phillppians 4:13..Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just ,whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if ther ebe any virtue, and if there be any praise think on these things.

Whilst it is possible that your symptoms are from withdrawl my gut tells me that it is dehydration...I have been a heavy drinker for a longtime and cut down to a 6 pack a day (~8 standard drinks) before quitting this time (day 8 for me) one of my earliest struggles was to just drink water...I would feel like a drink and then not drink anything... If you are drinking beer or something similar like cider you may have reduced your total fluid intake. That being said you say 3 or 4 drinks..if you are pouring your own or if they are premixed drinks this may be well more than you think. It was nice to find this page and see that at day 8 i'm not the only person feeling like c**p....it has been a decade since I last detoxed and couldn't remember what to expect. As a piece of advice to all people experience detiox - take Niacin as it really takes the edge of the DTs.

PRECIOUS ONES MY FAMILY JUST LOST A SWEET AND DEAR FRIEND AT 53 YEARS OLD FROM ALCOHOL ADDICTION. HER FUNERAL IS TODAY. IT IS SUCH A DESTROYER AND SADLY PEOPLE THINK IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO ME. PLEASE BE SINCERE ABOUT DEFEATING THIS DESTROYER AND KNOW THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE FREE AND HE WILL HELP YOU. THINK OF ALCOHOL AS THE ENEMY THAT YOU MUST DEFEAT!!!!

sorry for your loss. I have been drinking a lot lately and started to realize its a problem. I started drinking because i was a recovering drug addict and thought drinking would be a better option but now im just as stuck.

Wow, great thread, I can pretty much relate to every single one in some way or another lol, anyway day 24 for me today, and I can say that the first 2-4 days were the worst for me, shaking sweating nightmares feel like im going to seizure or have a stroke insomia etc. Im 22 yrs old and heavy drinkin for about 2 years didnt miss a single night, usually 10-15 drinks per night, the nights I went out I cant even tell you how much because I wouldnt ever remember, But I quit almost cold turkey with the help of a few xanax the first 3 nights, then I said F-it, im not going to depend on these and I toughed it out completely sober barely gettin 3-4 hrs sleep a night while still working full time. But I can say im over the hump at the moment, still really depressed and anxious but I know its better then the crazed withdrawals I was having, unfortunatly its kinda killed my social life because im used to going out drunk/buzzed to cope with anxiety etc. But what ever, honestly I dont care im tired of depending on it to function, first thing I would do out of work is grab a 12 pack and a 24oz ( that I would drink on the ride home ) and drink till I felt "normal". All I can say is it gets better in time, but I am going to attempt at the 2 month period since my last drink, to have a few beers on a night off and see if I can moderate, If I cant, oh well I guess I just gotta give it up =/, never saw this coming seriously, f******* 22 years old and already dealing with alchoholism? So depressing, wish I could turn back time and moderate from there, its almost like once you get to that point theres no turning back wtf, I was fine drinkin on weekends when I was younger 17-18 no prob no withdrawal etc, the sh*t just creeps up on you I guess, if anyone wants to talk

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. Good luck all, it SUCKS, but you can do it. Theres a handle of vodka sitting in my basement at the moment un-touched, I call it my doomsday vodka, when the world is ending, im going to be drunk for sure Lol. Take care! 

I keep trying to stop but seem to fail after a week or two, went one week then drank, then went for two weeks without a drink. I don't get any withdrawal symptoms but seem to binge drink and be a prat. Guess i'm starting to realize how hard it is to stop and how drink can mess me up. Will keep trying........(on day 2 yet again). 

Take B vitamins. Especially Thiamine, B1. It will help your body use regular carbohydrates. Look into Ashwagandha. It settles the anxiety. Just my 2 cents.

Full of sh*t...i've drank and smoked to near oblivion...like almost OD levels and it takes 72 hours for alcohol to totally leave your system, you start to feel better after 24 hours....but when the drink is leaving your bloodstream the initial 24 hours are very dangerous as you can actually die from heart attack or have a seizure...best to see your doctor or get some diazepam and maybe tamazepam to calm your nerves and get some sleep, if you can....believe me you'll feel awful as if your'e gonna die...it's not a pleasent experience at all....:(((

Going on 3 weeks sober. Withdrawal symptoms came back today. No idea why. Was starting to feel better. Now very panicky and in a fog. Took .5 mg of lorazepam for first time in days. When will this be over?

Going to AA....

 

Well I've been arrested a few times over the last 10 yrs because of alcohol, DUI, drunkin public, been in lots of fights and in shitty situations because of chasing the party and being drunk acting like a fool.

 

Totally lost in a world of self-hate and anxiety numbed by excessive binge drinking, stressing out working long hours to fund this "lifestyle"

 

My "social life" also took a hit. Ive only been sober a few weeks. I did take my self to the ER one of the first nights I thought was having a heart attack. I've been tryin to be some kind of van wilder type of character at the bars, pickin up on women, buyin as much beer as i can fit down my throat.

 

They put me on lorazepam ..screw that drug! It did help, but he gave me a BUNCH Of it and told me to taper off, even tho looking back I didnt really need to take it for 2 weeks! ( 2 WEEKS THAT ARE A BLUR AND I GOT A DENTED CAR ). DONT OPERATE MACHINERY ON LORAZEPAM!!

 

 

Stay safe folks. I was at a point where I was just laying in bed, drinking 12 packs of super dooper ale, calling everyone who I thought wronged me in the past and yell at them over the phone. THen i'd pass out, finish the 12 pack, drive with a hangover ot get more beer, repeat, 3 days at a time, for about 2 months. That was the final straw.....that and getting in a bar fight, knocked unconcious and going to jail, AGAIN at 30 years old....im too old for this sh*t

Yup. I was in different circumstances, but effects are the same. I was a sh!tty father, and a sh!itting husband. I would manipulate everyone around me, and they were the ones whom where wrong, not I. We'd have people over, and I'd act like an ass, or say something completely inappropriate. Friends who didn't mind drank as much as I did, and now that I've quit? It's lonely at the top.
Friends don't hang out with us. I'm told, I'm not fun anymore...
There are definately negatives with any massive change to your lifestyle, but you wouldn't expect otherwise, would you?
It's a change for better, and with that, you're going to purge yourself almost everything that you used to do. Even work won't be the same.

I've haven't had any beer since the end of July. Since then, I've lost a lot of friends. My life, and the lives of my family have changed.
My kids are slowly getting happier, as I become less of an ass. I'm involving myself more with their lives too. Volunteering with scouts, camping, you name it. Stopping drinking is only the first step, but the end result will be a better you.

I have done this so many times and am SICK of it...Quit after binge and have blood in my urine...Cannot sleep, feels like I am IN THE CLOUDS, because I cannot remember things....I used to be able to recover in a couple of days but NOT ANYMORE.....It is time to remember how TERRIBLE it is to go through alcohol withdrawals ......I get scared due to palpitations and my mind gets away from me. ALCOHOL is a terrible, yet promoted drug in the USA. I have allowed "Satan in a Bottle" to destroy so much of my potential in life....Not getting any younger.!!!!   GOOD LUCK to all who are going through withdrawal sympoms. I hope you recover quickly and STAY AWAY from it! 

I was wondering if somone can give me some answers??? I've been sober for 12 days after a relapse on heavy drinking. For the last two days I've had severe muscle pains from my neck to my legs along with throbing head achs,cold and hot flushes and swets during the night. Is this normal for day 12??