Alcohol withdrawal | Alcohol Scotland

Common withdrawal symptoms Withdrawal can start after alcohol levels begin to fall.

Shaking or tremor.

Sweating.

Nausea or vomiting.

Anxiety or agitation.

Headache.

Poor sleep.

Fast heartbeat.

Feeling generally unwell.

If these symptoms start after you cut down or stop drinking, contact your GP practice. If your GP is closed and you need urgent advice, phone NHS 24 on 111.

NHS 24 — 111 for urgent care when it is not life-threatening Call

Delirium tremens (DTs) The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. It can be fatal.

Delirium tremens, often called DTs, is a medical emergency. It can cause severe confusion, agitation, hallucinations, shaking, fever and a very fast heartbeat.

Seizures can also happen during severe alcohol withdrawal. Without proper treatment, severe withdrawal can kill.

If someone is severely confused, hallucinating, having a seizure, collapses or is becoming seriously unwell, phone 999 or go to A&E.

Emergency — phone 999 Call

When withdrawal is an emergency Severe confusion, hallucinations, seizures or collapse need urgent medical help.

If someone is having a seizure, is severely confused, is hallucinating, collapses or becomes very unwell, treat it as a medical emergency.

Phone 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening symptoms. If the symptoms are urgent but not life-threatening, phone NHS 24 on 111.

Emergency — phone 999 Call NHS 24 — phone 111 Call Read about detox and withdrawal support →

Who is at higher risk Risk is greater with heavier dependence or previous severe withdrawal.

Heavy daily drinking.

Previous seizures or delirium during withdrawal.

Needing alcohol in the morning to stop symptoms.

Several previous withdrawals or detoxes.

Serious physical illness.

Other drugs or medicines that affect the nervous system.

If any of these apply to you, speak to your GP or a local alcohol service before changing how much you drink. Drinkline Scotland can also give confidential advice and point you towards local help.

Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314 Call Find local alcohol and drug services in Scotland ↗

Do not suddenly stop if you are dependent Stopping alcohol abruptly can trigger severe withdrawal.

If you drink heavily every day, need alcohol to stop shakes or anxiety, or have had withdrawal before, get medical advice before stopping.

A planned withdrawal can be much safer than trying to stop without assessment.

Contact your GP practice or local alcohol service and tell them how much you drink, whether you get withdrawal symptoms and whether you have had seizures or DTs before. They can assess whether you need medical support to withdraw safely.

Read about GP and alcohol services → Find alcohol support and local services in Scotland ↗

After withdrawal Detox deals with withdrawal. It does not deal with everything that led to drinking.

Ongoing treatment and recovery support can make it easier to stay stopped and deal with the problems alcohol has caused.

Local alcohol services can help with treatment after withdrawal. Alcoholics Anonymous also has free meetings across Scotland and a national helpline.

Read about recovery → Alcoholics Anonymous — 0800 9177 650 Call Find an AA meeting near you ↗