What is withdrawal in alcohol dependence and common symptoms?

• A. A feeling of euphoria after drinking.
• B. Symptoms that occur when stopping or reducing alcohol; tremors, sweating, anxiety, irritability.
• C. A sudden craving that disappears after a day.
• D. No symptoms ever.

Answer: (B)

Withdrawal is the set of physical and psychological symptoms that occur when someone who is dependent on alcohol stops drinking or reduces their intake. Common signs include tremors, sweating, anxiety, and irritability, reflecting the body's nervous system re-adjusting to the absence of alcohol. This happens because regular alcohol exposure dampens brain activity, and removing it lets the nervous system become overactive. Craving can happen, but withdrawal is broader than a single urge. Symptoms can start hours after the last drink and typically peak within one to two days, sometimes lasting longer; in some people, more serious signs like seizures or delirium tremens can occur and require medical attention. The other descriptions—feeling happy after drinking, just a temporary craving, or no symptoms at all—do not fit withdrawal.