QUESTION: Can you explain a little about the "DTs"? Is it just a case of the "shakes," or can it be a serious condition that might possibly be fatal? Please mention a bit about treatment as well.
Thanks, this is an important question for us.
ANSWER: "DTs," or perhaps a bit more precise "delirium tremens," is a form of mental illness brought on by a withdrawal from alcohol, which causes the sufferer to lose touch with reality.
The primary symptoms of the "delirium" component often center around terrifying and vivid hallucinations: sounds, smells, and sights which only exist in the patient's mind.
For instance, the person may see snakes, or feel ants crawling all over his body.
The "tremens" part, however, is the more important factor indicating the underlying danger because it is characterized by a soaring heart rate, seizures (shakes), sweating, and hypertension which can lead (among other things) to heart and kidney failure. Treatment for DTs, as it is commonly called by many, is often a complex process, the success of which depends on the basic health of the individual. Usually it begins with a prescribed sedative such as diazepam to calm the central nervous system, plenty of fluids, electrolytes to replenish lost body salts, continued abstinence from alcohol, and multivitamins and sound nutrition to bring the body back to normal function.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
