Narcologist called the harbingers of delirium tremens

Ruslan Isaev, a psychiatrist, narcologist, and president of the Independent Narcological Guild, spoke about the precursors of delirium tremens with prolonged alcohol consumption.

In conversation with aif.ru On Thursday, May 2, the doctor explained that alcoholic delirium, commonly known as delirium tremens, is an acute psychotic condition. It develops in people with chronic alcoholism, usually against the background of a sudden withdrawal of alcohol after a long binge.

According to Isaev, this is not about "severe intoxication" or "hangover," but about a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. It develops two to three days after stopping drinking alcohol.

"Long before the detailed picture of delirium, so—called prodromal symptoms may appear — these are anxiety, sleep disorders, nightmares, sweating, shaking hands, and blood pressure drops," the narcologist explained.

In particular, complaints about auditory or visual illusions should be alerted. This is an alarming signal indicating a high risk of developing delirium in the coming hours. Classical delirium develops acutely, often in the evening or at night, and begins with a sharp disturbance of consciousness.

"A person loses his bearings in a place, time, does not understand well who is in front of him. He can talk to himself, have a "delusional conversation", actively move, be excited," Isaev said.

Hallucinations can be combined with delusions. He stressed that delirium is a medical emergency. At the first symptoms, an emergency drug treatment team should be called.

On May 15, Honored Lawyer of Russia, Doctor of Law, Professor Ivan Solovyov, in an interview with RT, reminded Russians about the punishment for drinking alcohol in public places. For this, a fine of 500 to 1.5 thousand rubles is threatened.

In January, narcologist Yuri Sivolap said that drastic abstinence from alcohol can lead to two serious complications — alcoholic epilepsy or alcoholic delirium, delirium tremens. Both of these conditions are highly undesirable, notes 360.ru .

At the same time, psychotherapist and narcologist Marat Saraev dispelled one of the myths about dealing with a hangover. According to him, to minimize a hangover, you do not need to drink a lot of water, cranberry juice or rosehip. In such conditions, the psychiatrist-narcologist gives clear recommendations: bed rest, certain types of medications, including psychotropic drugs.