Features of acute alcohol withdrawal.
| Type | Onseta | Features | Offset | Fitting | Other features |
| Minor symptom complex (majority) | 6–8 h | Generalised hyperactivity, anxiety, tremor, sweating, nausea, retching, tachycardia, systemic hypertension, mild pyrexia (Peak 10–30 h) | 40–50 h | Yes: first 12–48 h | Auditory/visual hallucinations: may last for 5–6 days |
| Delirium tremens (<5%) | 48–72 h | Coarse tremor, agitation, fever, tachycardia, profound confusion, delusions and hallucinations | Fatal if not effectively treated | No: may herald the syndrome but is not part of it | Hyperpyrexia, ketoacidosis and profound circulatory collapse if not effectively curtailed |
| afollowing abrupt cessation or a substantial reduction in alcohol intake. | |||||