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Alcohol Abuse and Dependence - When to Call a Doctor

Call911or other emergency services if you or someone else:

Has the symptoms of alcohol poisoning. These can include vomiting, coughing up blood, gasping for breath, passing out, and seizures.
Has a history of heavy drinking and is having severe withdrawal symptoms but is not willing to get treatment.
Has delirium tremens (DTs), which can lead to death. Symptoms can include seizure, shaking, a fast heartbeat, and seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations).
Is thinking or talking about suicide or harming others. For more information, see the warning signs of suicide.

Call a doctor right away if you or someone you care about:

Has withdrawal symptoms, such as confusion and trembling.
Agrees to be seen for possible treatment. You need to call right away because people who agree to get help often don't follow through with making the appointment.
Has stopped drinking but starts drinking again (has a relapse).
Has severe stomach pain.

Call a doctor if you or someone you care about has an alcohol problem or signs of one. Signs include:

Having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when drinking stops.
Refusing to admit to an alcohol problem or being too sick to seek help.
Having blackouts, which means not remembering what happened during a drinking episode.
Continuing to drink alcohol despite having poor health.
Not being able to take care of everyday duties because of drinking alcohol.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you get better on your own, you won't need treatment. If you get worse, you and your doctor will decide what to do next.

Watchful waiting is not a good choice for alcohol abuse and dependence. If you have alcohol problems, or if you believe that your health or other areas of your life are being affected by drinking alcohol, you need to take steps to cut back on or quit drinking.

Watchful waiting also is not a good choice if you or other people are being hurt by another person's drinking. It's important to seek help for yourself and other people, even if the person who is drinking doesn't seek treatment. Early treatment for all people affected by drinking makes recovery more likely.

If you have concerns about your drinking or the drinking of someone you care about, talk to your doctor.

Who to See

Health professionals who can diagnose and treat symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol and provide support during recovery include:

After withdrawal symptoms have been treated, health professionals who can provide support during recovery include:

Psychiatrists and other doctors who specialize in addiction medicine.
Psychologists.
Licensed mental health counselors.
Social workers.

Some health professionals might have chemical dependency certification (CDC) or be certified alcoholism counselors (CAC).

Support groups can also help you and your family with alcohol problems:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or similar support groups are for people with alcohol abuse or dependence.
Al-Anon or Alateen (for teenagers) is for families and friends affected by someone's drinking.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 15, 2008

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.