What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Drinking?
Cutting back or quitting drinking can be a beneficial step toward improving your health and overall wellbeing.1 This page will help you understand the effects of quitting alcohol, what happens to your body when you stop drinking, and how to start the path to recovery.
Physical Changes When You Quit Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol can cause a range of immediate and long-term effects that can impact a person’s health and overall life.1 The physical health changes and improvements that a person can experience after their body recovers from alcohol are important and potentially life-saving benefits of not drinking.1
Timeline of Changes After You Stop Drinking Alcohol
The exact benefits of quitting drinking can vary for each person depending on different variables, such as how much and how often they drink, their tolerance level, whether they are physiologically dependent on alcohol, and individual health factors.2,3,4,5
The following provides a general description of the average alcohol withdrawal timeline, but keep in mind that symptoms can vary from person to person and can also range from mild to severe depending on your unique circumstances.2
6-24 Hours After Quitting Drinking
When someone is dependent on alcohol (meaning that their bodies have adapted to the presence of alcohol) and suddenly stops or cuts down their alcohol use, they can experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms.6 This occurs due to the abrupt reversal of the depressant effects of alcohol on a person’s brain function.6
Withdrawal symptoms typically emerge within hours after a person’s last drink.2,3 By the 24-hour mark, it is possible to have experienced the onset of some or all of the following withdrawal symptoms:3
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Nausea
- Tremors
- Autonomic dysfunction (sweating, fast pulse)
- Auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations
24-48 Hours After Quitting Drinking
At this time, the body is continuing to stabilize itself, and it is possible to still be experiencing the withdrawal symptoms developed within the first 24 hours, such as hallucinations and autonomic dysfunction.2 Additional symptoms, including severe and potentially life-threatening ones, can develop between 24-48 hours after the last drink, including the possibility of seizures.
Those withdrawing from detox can experience severe metabolic abnormalities that increase their risk of experiencing a seizure, such as low blood sugar, increased levels of pH in the blood, and low rates of magnesium.10 Seizures are believed to occur in about 25% of patients and can be fatal.10 Due to this and other potential risks, it is recommended that detox occurs in a setting where healthcare professionals can provide 24/7 supervision.
48-72 Hours After Quitting Drinking
From 48-72 hours after one’s last drink, it is possible for a person to develop a serious condition known as delirium tremens, or the DTs.2,3 The DTs are a severe manifestation of withdrawal, causing symptoms such as:3
- Disorientation
- Elevated heart rate.
- High blood pressure.
- Low-grade fever.
- Sweating.
- Agitation.
- Hallucinations (mainly visual).
The DTs have a mortality rate of 5-10%, therefore require very specific clinical treatment provided by one or more medical professionals to avoid complications and potential fatality.3
1-4 Weeks After Quitting Drinking
Around 1-4 weeks after quitting drinking, most people should begin to experience a significant degree of medical stability, as alcohol is metabolized relatively quickly and the most acute withdrawal symptoms should have resolved.9 However, it is still possible for some people to experience symptoms such as:8,9
- Anxiety.
- Insomnia.
- Autonomic dysfunction (i.e. sweating or fast pulse)
- Alcohol cravings, which are normally at their most severe around 3 weeks after a person has stopped drinking.
- Anhedonia, or an inability to experience pleasure.
1-3 Months After Quitting Drinking
Some people may develop post-acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS, at this time.8 This means that their bodies are still recovering from alcohol use and dependence, and PAWS is believed to develop when the brain enters a state of hyperexcitability due to activation of the central stress systems.8 Therefore, some people can experience persistent symptoms such as:8
- Irritability.
- Depression.
- Insomnia.
- Fatigue.
- Restlessness.
- Distractibility.
3-6 Months After Quitting Drinking
Those who have developed PAWS may still experience symptoms, which tend to be the most severe for up to 6 months after drinking has stopped.8 They may experience ongoing symptoms, such as:8
- Mood disturbances.
- Anxiety.
- Cognitive impairment.
- Insomnia.
6 Months – 1 Year After Quitting Drinking
At this point, most people will have stabilized and no longer experience significant symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.8 Around the 6-month mark, some people may still experience sleep difficulties, and some research indicates that mood and anxiety symptoms can even persist for up to 10 years.8 Additional symptoms that are still possible for some people can include:8
- Anhedonia.
- Cravings.
- Mild residual cognitive impairments.
- Other PAWS symptoms, which tend to gradually diminish over several years of sustained abstinence.
Lifelong and Long-Term Impacts of Quitting Drinking
The above guidelines indicate what happens after you quit alcohol in terms of specific symptoms you may experience. However, many health and wellness benefits can motivate people to sustain their recovery over the longer term.
Some of the ongoing benefits of abstinence can include:1
- A reduced chance of heart disease and stroke.
- A reduced risk of various types of cancer.
- A decreased risk of liver disease.
- A potentially stronger immune system.
- Sustained recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- A lower risk of cognitive problems, such as dementia.
- Better mental health and a reduced risk of problems like depression or anxiety.
- Improved relationships with family and friends.
Withdrawing from alcohol is a process that isn’t always going to be easy or enjoyable. However, no matter how things might seem right now, it’s important to know that there is hope, and proper treatment can help you attain and sustain sobriety.
How to Start the Recovery Journey
If your loved one is struggling, our pages on helping a loved one with addiction and convincing someone to go to rehab can help you understand the signs that someone should go to rehab and explain how to get help. Our facilities offer individualized, evidence-based treatment on all levels of care, including medical detox, inpatient drug and alcohol rehab, and outpatient addiction treatment programs.
When you’re ready to reach out, please call us any time of day or night at to speak to a knowledgeable and compassionate admissions navigator. We can help you understand how to choose a rehab facility and using health insurance to pay for rehab, and quickly verify your insurance.