how long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?

I'd been drinking heavily for 6 months now and I've been sober for 48 hours. I feel overall weak and a little naseous. I'm not sure if I'll experience anything like the stories I've read in this thread but I'm scare out of my mind.

My boyfriend has recently admitted he has a drinking problem and has for the past 12 years, consuming large amounts of alcohol EVERY night to numb himself and escape the harsh realities of life. We have been together one year and I have goten to the point where I was leaving him because he could not and would not come to the realization that he has a problem and it is affecting me and us negativly due to his agressive nature and emotionaly abussive ways while drinking. SO its been 4 days now since his breakdown and his addmition and I have agreed to be possitive and supportive as long as he keeps trying and sticks to it. I believe in second chances and I also know this man has a good heart clouded by an addiction. This is very new to me and I have never had to deal with an alcoholic. I have been doing as much research as I can regarding withdrawal symptoms and how to cope with someone comming off of alcohol. I have already noticed his anxiety bouts and trouble sleeping. 3 days into it he woke up with nausia, shakes ans vommiting. He has been very edgey and irritable and emotional. I was wondering if there are any women out there in similar situations and how they dealt with thier loved one during this critical time. Sometimes I also feel that I am putting all my energy into him and I want to but I also need support. Does that even make sense.? I dont believe in AA or AL Anon because they seem to pull people (families) apart and seem to insist on making THE GROUP the alcoholics family and priority. It seems more like brainwashing if you will and I am not very religious either so the whole "god" and "higher power" thing doesnt work for my boyfriend or I. The higher power is within YOURSELF if anything. Anyway....How long does this detox stage take?? What are the chances of relapse? What else can I do for this man besides be supportive and possitive?? I would like to hear what other people struggling with alcohol found to be very helpful from thier spouses. I would like some insight from others on what he is going through and feeling. Thank you! :-)

Hi this is for guest who is/was tapering and working out. Really interesting to hear your story. I SUED to work out (weight lifting) about 5 x week, for 3 years until 18 months ago when I very suddenly and began to drink very heavily. I mean very quick change from party drinker to every single day drinking usually morning to night. Im quitting now. My question: how long after you stopped or dramatically cut drinking did you wait to go to the gym? I fear that because ive REALLY been drinking hard for a year now (i would say a fifth every day often more) AND I started smoking very heavily too - I just am worried Im gonna drop dead of I jump back into weights. I was very fit 2 years ago.

Second, can I ask how much you were drinking daily?

Thanks and good luck to you. I totally agree working out for me personally is the only thing that keeps me feeling good. really good actually. Stramge creatures we humans are...at least addicitve ones.,

I had been sober for 2 1/2 years when I stopped doing what I needed to do on a daily basis to stay in recovery. I started right where I left off. It is a progressive disease, and make no mistake, for those who become chemically dependent, it is a disease. I stayed out drinking for over a year, and am experiencing the same withdrawal I felt when I quit the first time after 30 years. From my experience, and what I have learned through conversation, working with others, the withdrawal symptoms usually last from 3 to 10 days. Vitamins, exercise, and eating well do help, not necessarily eliminate the symptoms though.
It is very hard to do by yourself. AA does not demand you become addicted to it. Yes, there are some folks who make it what seems like an inordinate part of their life, but not all do. And for those that do, isn't it about whatever works. Quitting gradually seldom works - not saying never, but if you are chemically dependent, you are still feeding the brain the alcohol, and not giving it the opportunity to start making serotonin and dopamine again. I am trying to decide on whether or not to do treatment as well. Lack of insurance or money does not necessarily make it impossible. Those of you that are interested should talk to someone in the local assistance system. Good luck all, I'm hoping for some myself as well.

I jsut quit drinking 3 days ago and ended up in the hospital with a massive seizure. It was horrible, the worst thing ever. I hit the ground so hard ibroke my nose and split my nose open. *hrs in the hospital. I always thought that I was invincible. I just hope there is not another one, it was hell.

On day three of quitting alcohol, and VERY fatigued. Laid in bed all day today. Also, intense sugar cravings. Hoping I start feeling more normal in the next week or two. That would be motivating...

P.S. I'm 32, and have been drinking fairly heavily for about a decade or so.

I know what alot of you are going through. I have been an alcoholic for 20 years. I am weaning myself off of beer now. Had four lastnight, four tonight, but ended up opening a fifth one tonight due to stressors and need for sleep. I will dump it before finishing it because this time, i am determined to quit the habit by sunday. I am basically down to four beer a day, but suffer from anxiety and panick disorder. Does anyone know if i'm completely safe from having alcoholic seizures when I have no alcohol by sunday? Weaning down has been going on for 2 weeks now. I have been playing it safe.

Hi Everyone,

I have drank for 30 years as mostly a social drinker,recently due to unemployment I went on a 2 week bender and when I tried to stop I could not sleep and had shakes and headaces etc.I am now dry for 2 weeks and am sleeping ok agter a coures of librium to help me.I still have slights shakes and twitches.Normally when I drink I can have a couple of pints and then go home,I don't have a craving for drink,
Am I an ALCHOLIC? As I would like to go for a social few pints? Thanks for any help.

Wow!! I am thinking that just like me someone else was up at 3am , feeling like you are going to throw up! Here's my story.
I am 44 year old, female. My drink of choice was wine. I have been drinking too much for the past 12 years. Started out not too bad,
I would drink half a bottle about 3 times a week. 5 years later ihad progressed to pretty much a full 750 ml bottle every night.
Occasionally I would take a day it two off from drinking. I was constantly trying to rationize my drinking telling myself i was not an Allie.
I would watch intervention just so I could tell myself I was no where near the addict that some of those people are.
However something happened inside of me. I am a mother and the thought of me not being around for another 40 years scares me.
I am so afraid that I have already damaged my liver, I hope not to the point of cirrohis. Even though I would deserve it. My kids don't deserve to lose their mom.

44 year old mom again, from above post. Well wanted to continue talking about my alcohol withdrawal experience.
So this is day 5 for me. The first 3 days were not too bad. Just headaches and dry mouth, I would sometimes go up to 3 days without
drinking so I think that my body was used to the 3 day abstinence. However yesterday was day 4 and that is when things took a turn
for the worst. It started in the early evening, I had stomach pains and nausea. I had bad diareah and had several runny bowel movements.
This was a change from being constipated for the last 3 days. I have been taking milk thistle and I wonder if that had something to do with
my tummy troubles. I tried to sleep last night but as soon as I would get to that place where I might drift off I would have a spasm in my feet or hand. The nausea was also keeping me awake. I was scared, I thought my liver might be shutting down. I don't know if that is the anxiety or not. I had to make myself throw up because I couldn't sleep with the feeling in my stomach. I finally drifted off about 3 am and slept until 8 am. This morning I found this post, which was very helpful and i now think that my flu like symptoms are quite normal, perhaps my liver is not failing after all. I went to the drugstore today, bought some Gravol and Gatorade , and some B1 vitamins. I slept awhile this afternoon, which was nice. I ate some soup and the gravol is helping with nausea. Tommorow will be day 6. I can't even rember the last time I abstained fir 6 days. In fact it is Saturday night, and I can't remember the last Saturday night that I didn't drink wine. I would love to say I am proud of myself but I really couldn't think of having a drink right now. The true test will be when I am feeling good again ( hopefully I will) . Stay tuned for another post from 44 mom...,,

Hey man I feel your pain... I was drinking between a liter and a half gallon of vodka everyday for less than a year and and recently ended up with pancreaitis, one of the most painful things I've ever felt in my life. Supposedly worse than child birth... was in the hospital/ ICU for 7 days... 5 of those days I was in excruciating pain... I'm only 28 years old and I never want to feel like that again, doctor says I might be diabetic now because of my drinking. But you want to know the craziest part of it all??? I still crave alcohol.. its insane. I go to church and meettings its been about a week since I've been out of the hospital. Shaking is a lot better, no more hallucinations and days at work aren't quite so miserable. God bless you too, hope all is still well with you...

This is a helpful site which I stumbled across using Google. I'm 57 and have drank a lot since a teenager. I have a beautiful wife & 3-grown children now. My oldest daughter has been in AA over 2-years now & am very proud of her. My oldest son is expecting their first baby & I'm worried as he drinks way too much.

Recently I came to the conclusion that I do not need alcohol in my life any longer. MY routine consisted of a 6-pak after work while cooking dinner & maybe a couple glasses of wine or a 6-pak with a couple shots of bourbon or vodka [so like 7-8 drinks a nite.
Funny thing is nobody knew it as I was very quiet about it & hold my liquor very well. The increasing problems were with anxiety & getting sick & nauseous, esp. at restaurants & public places.

Anyway for first 10-days I've been drinking 1-lite beer a day as I read that will ease you into the process without really bad withdrawal.
I'm now at the point where I'm going to eliminate that 1-beer. I feel pretty good so far as I've always worked out. Funny thing is yesterday I felt hung-over [?}. Also anxiety isn't as bad but still there. Went to a restaurant with friend yesterday & towards end of lunch felt dizzy like I might pass out - which caused me to want to get out of the restaurant ASAP.

I feel like I can do this and I want to do this and will tackle it 1-day at a time as they say. Will check in again soon & see how I'm doing.

6 to 10 months is really the answer

Ok, so started by dumping alcohol after my wife complained to me. Gin, whiskey and some beer. It hurt to do, but I did it. The last few weeks have been interresting. I started heavily drinking about 6 years ago. 1.75 litre gin every couple weeks, Vodka bottle a week and about 2 six packs a week. I had convinced myself that this was "moderate" drinking.

The symptoms in the last two weeks:
Tired
Panic
Depressed
Extra hungry
Angry at times
Bargaining (wanting to find ways to make drinking ok)
Constantly thinking about drinking
Headaches
2 hour naps
feeling generally unhappy
feeling "crazy"

I broke down a week ago and had 2 gin and tonics and a beer with a friend.

OK, so I'm 57 and have been drinking since my teens. Wanted to stop for many years & just never able to. Not sure why, but think I got tired of increasing anxiety issues which were becoming a real social problem, tho happily married. I always worked out & appear very happy, but knew I was an alcoholic [just nobody else].

So 5-weeks ago I decided to cut back without stopping cold turkey. I was drinking 5-6 beers after work & evening with a few shots mixed in as well. If not shots then a few glasses of wine & a couple tall boys as well - so 5-6-8 drinks a nite every single nite. When I cut back to 2-lite beers I got really anxious & shaky with rapid heart beat at times & high blood pressure at nite - I was quite miserable to say the least & came home early from work twice [thought I was going to pass out at work]. I slipped up after 3-weeks & had 8-beers one nite & felt fine until the next nite I went back to 2 & thought I was going to die the next day after & was quite ill for several days.
I then stopped all alcohol and my anxiety peaked like crazy. It was so bad & I was so shaky I could not sit down. The only remedy I could think of was working out, which I did in our garage gym until I was so tired I was able to fall asleep.

It is now the longest I've ever gone in my adult life without a drink. The funny thing or I guess weird is right now I really don't even want a drink. I'm more curious about feeling good each morning & I am starting to enjoy food much more & my stomach has settled down.
This is a strange feeling for me and I still can't believe I am feeling more convinced I don't need to drink at all - I'm pretty convinced I am a person who cannot just have one -so it has to be none.