A client is being admitted to the substance abuse unit for alcohol detoxification. As part of the intake interview, the nurse asks him when he had his last alcoholic drink. He says that he had his last drink 6 hours before admission. Based on this response, nurse Willy should expect early withdrawal symptoms to:
a- Not occur at all because the time period for their occurrence has passed
b- Begin anytime within the next 1 to 2 days
c- Begin within 2 to 7 days
d- Begin after 7 days
Answer B.
Acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol may begin 6 hours after the client has stopped drinking and peak 1 to 2 days later. Delirium tremens may occur 2 to 4 days — even up to 7 days — after the last drink.
Withdrawal symptoms:
When stopping or drastically reducing excessive and prolonged consumption of alcohol, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Their severity and duration can vary greatly, from the banal "hangover" to a deadly delirium tremens.
If you have been drinking heavily for a long time and withdrawal symptoms appear after reducing or stopping your alcohol consumption, it is strongly advised to consult your family doctor or other medical expert. Indeed, it is impossible to predict how your situation will evolve. A doctor may also prescribe supportive treatment, which alleviates withdrawal symptoms and limits risk.
The hangover:
- All people who have "drunk" a day, know what it is, and so those who drink moderately know it too. In the latter case, it is the effect of mild intoxication by alcohol. In heavy drinkers, the hangover can also be a partial withdrawal syndrome, caused by a sharp drop in the amount of alcohol in the body during sleep.
- Some excessive drinkers make up for these withdrawal symptoms by starting to drink early in the day. This is called "morning consumption".
- The severity of the hangover depends on the amount of alcohol absorbed, the type of drink (some drinks cause a hangover faster because of the substances they contain), individual sensitivity and physical condition and mental health of the person concerned.
- Symptoms: "general feeling of discomfort", fatigue, headache, "dry mouth", nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hypersensitivity to stimulation and sometimes anxiety, melancholy, guilt and remorse ("I will never drink again") ).
The symptoms of "uncomplicated" weaning:
- They begin to manifest usually 24 hours after the drastic reduction or cessation of excessive consumption of long-term alcohol.
- The main symptom is "tremulation" (tremors), especially of the hands, but sometimes also of the head and the tongue. It can range from slight tremors to strong tremor.
- The symptoms are similar to those of a hangover, but much more pronounced.
- Other symptoms: profuse sweating, accelerated pulse, sometimes also hyperventilation and hypertension. The person may also have severe agitation, irritability, sleep disturbances, nightmares, anxiety and depressed mood.
- There is often also a terrible "state of lack", that is to say, an irrepressible and consuming drive of alcohol consumption.
- Finally, there may be temporary confusion. The person may have perception disorders during which, for example, she "sees bugs". These symptoms usually do not last very long and the person is usually fully aware that what she sees or hears is not reality.
- These symptoms are not dangerous in themselves and usually disappear after 7 to 10 days of abstinence. After 24 hours, withdrawal symptoms peak and, after three days, the worst is over. However, dark thoughts and insomnia can persist for several weeks.
a- Not occur at all because the time period for their occurrence has passed
b- Begin anytime within the next 1 to 2 days
c- Begin within 2 to 7 days
d- Begin after 7 days
Answer B.
Acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol may begin 6 hours after the client has stopped drinking and peak 1 to 2 days later. Delirium tremens may occur 2 to 4 days — even up to 7 days — after the last drink.
Withdrawal symptoms:
When stopping or drastically reducing excessive and prolonged consumption of alcohol, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Their severity and duration can vary greatly, from the banal "hangover" to a deadly delirium tremens.
If you have been drinking heavily for a long time and withdrawal symptoms appear after reducing or stopping your alcohol consumption, it is strongly advised to consult your family doctor or other medical expert. Indeed, it is impossible to predict how your situation will evolve. A doctor may also prescribe supportive treatment, which alleviates withdrawal symptoms and limits risk.
The hangover:
- All people who have "drunk" a day, know what it is, and so those who drink moderately know it too. In the latter case, it is the effect of mild intoxication by alcohol. In heavy drinkers, the hangover can also be a partial withdrawal syndrome, caused by a sharp drop in the amount of alcohol in the body during sleep.
- Some excessive drinkers make up for these withdrawal symptoms by starting to drink early in the day. This is called "morning consumption".
- The severity of the hangover depends on the amount of alcohol absorbed, the type of drink (some drinks cause a hangover faster because of the substances they contain), individual sensitivity and physical condition and mental health of the person concerned.
- Symptoms: "general feeling of discomfort", fatigue, headache, "dry mouth", nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hypersensitivity to stimulation and sometimes anxiety, melancholy, guilt and remorse ("I will never drink again") ).
The symptoms of "uncomplicated" weaning:
- They begin to manifest usually 24 hours after the drastic reduction or cessation of excessive consumption of long-term alcohol.
- The main symptom is "tremulation" (tremors), especially of the hands, but sometimes also of the head and the tongue. It can range from slight tremors to strong tremor.
- The symptoms are similar to those of a hangover, but much more pronounced.
- Other symptoms: profuse sweating, accelerated pulse, sometimes also hyperventilation and hypertension. The person may also have severe agitation, irritability, sleep disturbances, nightmares, anxiety and depressed mood.
- There is often also a terrible "state of lack", that is to say, an irrepressible and consuming drive of alcohol consumption.
- Finally, there may be temporary confusion. The person may have perception disorders during which, for example, she "sees bugs". These symptoms usually do not last very long and the person is usually fully aware that what she sees or hears is not reality.
- These symptoms are not dangerous in themselves and usually disappear after 7 to 10 days of abstinence. After 24 hours, withdrawal symptoms peak and, after three days, the worst is over. However, dark thoughts and insomnia can persist for several weeks.
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Psychosocial Integrity