Does Alcohol Cause Shaky Hands? Can It Be Treated?

A consideration individuals have to keep in mind is the chance for recovering problem drinkers to experience what is known as Delirium Tremens or DT. DT is a neurological disorder that impacts nearly 5% of those experiencing alcohol withdrawals and comes with its own set of severe symptoms. While alcohol withdrawal typically lasts one to two weeks, chronic alcohol abuse can lead to tremors and shakes that extend for weeks beyond that depending on the severity. Some individuals may experience alcohol tremors after a period of abstinence. Alcoholics in recovery who have been sober for one year may sometimes experience alcohol tremors at odd intervals throughout the day.

• In an attempt to counterbalance the sedative effects of alcohol, the brain releases more excitatory neurotransmitters than usual, which boosts nerve activity and keeps the body in a more alert state.
• The more people in your personal network that you trust to support your journey, the more likely you are to be successful.
• Mild withdrawal symptoms often start as soon as eight hours into the detox process and can manifest as insomnia, fatigue, headaches and anxiety or depression.
• They were first assessed between 1994 and 1995 and then again three years later between 1997 and 1998, when essential tremor was diagnosed in 76 of them.
• They are a sign that you probably have a substance use disorder, as your body has become addicted.
• DTs is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

For many, drinking-related tremors tend to resolve themselves once detox from alcohol is complete. Nerves and low blood sugar are two primary causes of alcohol-induced shakes. If you feel shaky after having a drink or two, eat something before drinking and take your time when consuming beverages. One of the best ways to recover quickly and stop shaking is to replenish your body with hydration. Making sure you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water or electrolyte drinks can help the nervous system detox after drinking alcohol. Support groups after treatment can help you maintain your sobriety for a successful recovery from your addiction.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Withdrawal symptoms usually peak approximately 24 to 48 hours after the last sip. Alcohol shakes and tremors can be hangover symptoms but are usually caused by dehydration, not alcohol withdrawal. America’s Rehab Campuses offer detox programs as well as treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction no matter how severe of a situation it has become.

• However, when someone who experiences alcohol dependency suddenly quits drinking alcohol, the brain continues to work as if alcohol were still present in the body.
• Shakes usually begin with 5 to 10 hours after your last drink and can peak at 24 to 48 hours, and are then accompanied by other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend a lifetime daily practice of consuming about 15 cups of fluids for men and about 11 cups of fluids for women.
• Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for males, or four or more drinks for females, within two hours.
• This only deepens the body’s physical dependence on alcohol, and causes more damage in the brain.

As the brain adapts to a regular influx of alcohol, it seeks to overcome alcohol’s sedative effect by increasing nerve activity to keep the body in a heightened state of alertness. Even when the intake of alcohol ceases, the brain stays in this state of high alert. Withdrawal symptoms occur as the brain struggles to adapt to the absence of alcohol and return to a state of equilibrium. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, and as such, reduces brain activity and energy levels. But when someone drinks large amounts of alcohol routinely, his or her body becomes accustomed to the continuous presence of alcohol. Finally, alcoholic liver disease which has advanced to hepatic encephalopathy show a flapping tremor of the hands called asterixis.

Can You Experience Shakes During Recovery?

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. There are prescribed medications that can help ease the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including tremors. Ask your doctor if either benzodiazepines or baclofen may be appropriate to help manage withdrawal symptoms. Once a recovering alcoholic has completely detoxed, tremors will usually resolve. However, long-term alcohol abuse can cause brain, nerve, and liver damage, which may result in permanent tremors. Once the body is free of alcohol and alcohol shakes have subsided, an individual can begin addiction treatment.

Hepatic encephalopathy develops when the liver cannot filter toxins from the blood that affect the brain cells. Nicknamed the ‘liver flap,’ this tremor is often compared to a bird flapping its wings and look similar to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Outpatient alcohol detox may be a good fit for people at low risk for severe withdrawal.

What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Tremors?

If you are a heavy drinker and are experiencing a tremor or shakiness, you should consult with your physician or an addiction specialist. Alcohol-related damage to the cerebellum can result in what’s known as an intention tremor. An intention tremor is a certain type of trembling that is most noticeable when a person makes purposeful or goal-oriented movement toward an object, but the tremor may also be present at rest. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.

Not surprisingly, most symptoms of withdrawal are symptoms that occur when the brain is overstimulated. Alcohol has a slowing effect (also called a sedating effect or depressant effect) on the brain. In a heavy, long-term drinker, the brain is almost continually exposed to the depressant effect of alcohol. Over time, the brain adjusts its own chemistry to compensate for the effect of the alcohol. It does this by producing naturally stimulating chemicals (such as serotonin or norepinephrine, which is a relative of adrenaline) in larger quantities than normal.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/boredom-drinking-and-how-to-stop-it/ more you drink, the more difficult it is to increase the GABA and decrease the glutamate, as your body becomes accustomed to the changes and responds by producing less GABA and more glutamate.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions for yourself or a loved one as we offer free, confidential consultations directly over the phone. With medically-assisted detox, a team consisting of medical professionals can observe and address symptoms as they come up. The body takes time to naturally remove the toxins left behind by alcohol which is why symptoms slowly ramp up in severity. Medications can be provided to help with aches and pains, mood regulation, nausea and insomnia to make the detox as comfortable as possible. Inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment typically involves counseling, evidence-based behavioral therapy, and aftercare support. The first, mildest withdrawal stage often occurs six to 12 hours after the last drink.

For Patients

Alcoholic tremor was never severe, and functional disability occurred in only 17% of patients. There was no relation to age or duration of drinking, and only 1% of the alcoholics had a family history of tremor compared with 46% in essential tremor. Tremor frequency was significantly greater in the alcoholics than in essential tremor.

BlueCrest Recovery Center takes a whole-person approach to treatment, considering not only a person’s physical needs but also their emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. Each day, take time to revisit your recovery goals and the reasons you decided how to stop alcohol shakes to stop using alcohol. After discharge from treatment, follow-up aftercare is vital for successful long-term recovery. Several factors impact the duration, including how severe the dependency on alcohol is for the particular person having the shakes.