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Suggest Treatment For Withdrawal Symptoms Of Alcohol
Question: I'm having a colonoscopy tomorrow morning. I stopped drinking alcohol about 36 hours ago, and I have been having some withdrawal symptoms including restlessness, anxiety, and a fast heartbeat. Is it safe to have the procedure tomorrow?
Brief Answer:
You wouldn't want to be the only one making that decision.
Detailed Answer:
If you've had delirium tremens (DT's), or seizures, or hallucinations from stopping drinking the answer is easy.
no.
But if you've never been hospitalized from stopping alcohol OR EVEN WORSE, if you've never stopped alcohol long enough to know, then the answer cannot be "it's safe" it can only be ..."It's uncertain". If it were going to be dangerous, the symptoms often start 2-3 days after stopping and no symptoms before. If the symptoms were decreasing after a day then it is likely to be safe BUT if you don't have a full day to find out and if you don't know the drugs they are giving during colonoscopy (mostly similar to ones used to treat alcohol withdrawal, but could also be ones that interact really badly with drug withdrawal) then, you don't know.
This is a risk for you and the people involved in the colonoscopy and they have to be informed of your entire situation. Then, they help make the decision.
So, certainly possible that it is very very dangerous.
You wouldn't want to be the only one making that decision.
Detailed Answer:
If you've had delirium tremens (DT's), or seizures, or hallucinations from stopping drinking the answer is easy.
no.
But if you've never been hospitalized from stopping alcohol OR EVEN WORSE, if you've never stopped alcohol long enough to know, then the answer cannot be "it's safe" it can only be ..."It's uncertain". If it were going to be dangerous, the symptoms often start 2-3 days after stopping and no symptoms before. If the symptoms were decreasing after a day then it is likely to be safe BUT if you don't have a full day to find out and if you don't know the drugs they are giving during colonoscopy (mostly similar to ones used to treat alcohol withdrawal, but could also be ones that interact really badly with drug withdrawal) then, you don't know.
This is a risk for you and the people involved in the colonoscopy and they have to be informed of your entire situation. Then, they help make the decision.
So, certainly possible that it is very very dangerous.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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