Symptoms

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Have you:

• Continued to drink even though you knew it was causing you trouble with your family or friends?
• Driven a car, motorcycle, truck, boat or other vehicle after having too much to drink?
• Engaged in activities while drinking or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt-like swimming, using machinery or walking in a dangerous area or around heavy traffic?
• Been arrested or held at a police station because of your drinking?
• Been intoxicated or had a hangover when you were supposed to be doing something important-like being at work, school or taking care of your home or family?
• Failed to fulfill any major responsibilities?

Signs of Alcohol Dependence

Have you:

• Found that you have to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you wanted?
• Had any of the following experiences happen when the effects of alcohol were wearing off?
• Had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep?
• Started shaking?
• Felt depressed, irritable, or nervous?
• Felt sick to your stomach or vomited?
• Had a very bad headache?
• Found yourself sweating or your heart beating fast?
• Saw, felt or heard things that were not really there?
• Had fits or seizures?
• Took a drug other than aspirin, Tylenol® or Advil® to keep from having a hangover or to get over the bad aftereffects of drinking?
• Took a drink to keep from having a hangover or to make yourself feel better when you had one?
• Started drinking even though you decided not to or promised yourself you would not?
• Kept on drinking for a much longer period of time than you had intended to?
• Tried to stop or cut down on your drinking, but found you could not do it?
• Gave up or cut down on activities that were important to you in order to drink-like work, school or associating with friends or relatives?
• Spent so much time drinking that you had little time for anything else?
• Spent a lot of time being hung over from drinking?
• Continued to drink even though you knew it was making you feel depressed, uninterested in things or suspicious or distrustful of other people?
• Continued to drink even though you knew it was causing you health problems or making a health problem worse?
• Found that you require a drink, the first thing in the morning as an "eye opener"?
• Been angered when someone brought up your drinking habits?
• Felt guilty when asked about your drinking?
• Thought that you needed to cut back on your drinking?

Alcohol withdrawal

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be mild to severe. These symptoms generally occur with heavy drinkers. They can occur as quickly as 24 to 48 hours after one stops drinking. Mild symptoms include:

• Irritability
• Quick-changing emotions
• Depression
• Tiredness
• Unclear thinking
• Bad dreams

Less frequent symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Palpitations
• Tremors of hands or eyelids

Although rare, the following severe withdrawal symptoms can occur and require immediate medical attention:

• Fever
• Convulsions
• Agitation
• Delirium tremens (confusion and hallucinations)

More on Alcoholism

In the Encyclopedia:

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.