Delirium tremens or "DTs" is a medical emergency. It is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that causes such things as body tremors, agitation, irritability, confusion, disorientation, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Generally, the DTs occur when a heavy drinker stops drinking abruptly and experiences alcohol withdrawal. A heavy drinker in this case is one who drinks 4 - 5 pints of wine, 7 - 8 pints of beer, or 1 pint of distilled liquor a day. DTs are also common in alcoholics who have been drinking for more than 10 years.
As we stated, the DTs is a medical emergeny and medical intervention is necessary. Usually patients are treated with benzodiazepines, such as Valium or even Restoril.
To read more about delirium tremens and treatment, see here and here.
For a scholarly article on alcohol withdrawal, see here.
And to answer a question that many people have: yes, withdrawal from alcohol can be fatal.
Return to Substance Abuse CLE.
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