Psychiatrist and addiction specialist Anton Rudkovsky has warned that people who have abused alcohol for a long time can face serious danger if they stop drinking suddenly. He made the warning in an interview with Life.ru.
Rudkovsky explained that with regular alcohol exposure, the nervous system adjusts and starts functioning around its presence. When alcohol intake suddenly stops, the system becomes overexcited. He said early symptoms of this state can include anxiety, insomnia, trembling, nausea, a rapid pulse and high blood pressure.
How the condition can worsen
Rudkovsky said the condition can deteriorate quickly, potentially leading to seizures, hallucinations, confusion and alcoholic delirium, also known as delirium tremens. He said people showing these symptoms need emergency medical care.
According to the doctor, the risk of severe complications is higher in people who have gone through long drinking binges, who have previously experienced severe withdrawal, or who used other substances alongside alcohol. He added that the risk is also greater for elderly people, pregnant women, and those with head injuries or underlying illnesses.
Doctor calls for medically supervised withdrawal
Rudkovsky stressed that quitting alcohol after long-term use should be done in a medically safe way. He said that afterward, a person needs to work through their cravings, the triggers that led to their drinking, and any psychological symptoms, which he said would lower the risk of relapse.
