A diagnosis of “alcohol withdrawal” is based on a person stopping or reducing heavy or prolonged alcohol with two or more of the following symptoms:
- Hyperactivity of the nervous system, such as sweating or a pulse rate greater than 100 beats per minute
- Increased hand tremor
- Insomnia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Transient visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions
- Psychomotor agitation, (e.g., fidgeting, tapping toes)
- Anxiety
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (involving muscle convulsions, stiffness, loss of consciousness)
The symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupation, or other important areas of functioning. In addition, they are not attributable to another medical condition or mental disorder, including intoxication or withdrawal from another substance.