Alcoholic ketoacidosis is a somewhat common condition among individuals recovering from alcohol abuse. The condition, which causes unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, is most often seen among people who abruptly stop drinking. Although, for the most part, this is a passing cluster of symptoms, alcoholic ketoacidosis can pose great danger for certain individuals if not appropriately addressed. Let’s explore everything we know about this complication.
What Is Alcoholic Ketoacidosis?
Alcoholic ketoacidosis, alcoholic ketosis, alcoholic acidosis, or AKA, is a condition some people struggling with alcoholism experience, but non-alcoholics may also suffer it when binge drinking. AKA is rare in non-alcoholics, however.
It’s most common in alcoholics between 20 and 60 years old but can affect people of all ages, alcoholics or not. It causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, dehydration, and agitation.
It’s unclear how common it is, but one study on 1,500 alcoholic Japanese men determined that 34% suffered from it within 14 days of their last drink. Another study estimates that less than 10% of alcoholics will experience AKA.
What Causes Alcoholic Ketoacidosis?
AKA is most common in people struggling with alcoholism who also suffer from liver disease and stop drinking suddenly. Dehydrated people who haven’t eaten in 1-3 days are also vulnerable to AKA. The dehydration may be caused by vomiting from excessive drinking and lack of food.
Other alcohol withdrawal symptoms may also prevent you from eating, which may lead to malnourishment. As a result, your body may start producing ketones to preserve energy. Ketones are chemicals your body defaults to when you’re not getting enough nutrients from food.
Your body will eventually produce excess ketones if you haven’t eaten much due to excessive drinking. Excess ketones increase acidic levels in your body and can lead to severe metabolic acidosis, which may lead to potentially lethal conditions.
How Fast Can Alcoholic Ketoacidosis Develop?
The time it takes to appear after the last drinking binge varies depending on how malnourished you are, the amount of alcohol taken, and your overall health status. It can appear as soon as one day after the last drink.
Can Alcoholic Ketoacidosis Be Fatal?
If not treated in time, AKA can lead to potentially deadly complications related to an irregular heartbeat. Elevated beta-hydroxybutyric acid, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and gastrointestinal bleeding associated with AKA may also lead to death.
Common Symptoms Of Alcoholic Ketoacidosis
One of the most significant issues with AKA is that its symptoms can overlap with other conditions, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, uremia, and even methanol poisoning. Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Rapid breathing and short breath
- Severe dehydration
- Altered mental state
In addition, AKA can lead to complications such as:
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Psychosis
- Coma
- Pancreatitis
- Pneumonia
- Encephalopathy
Treatment For Alcoholic Ketoacidosis
If you suffer from alcoholic ketoacidosis symptoms, you must go to an emergency room as soon as possible. Doctors and nurses will monitor vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing patterns. They may also monitor electrolytes to re-establish healthy values.
The priority will be to prevent alcohol withdrawal, get you hydrated again via intravenous fluids, and provide nutritional support with thiamine, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. You may also receive intravenous benzodiazepines if you’re likely to suffer seizures from alcohol withdrawal.
If doctors determine that you need ongoing care, they may move you to the ICU. Complications may occur, but they happen in less than 20% of cases. Long-term recovery from AKA improves if you also recover from alcoholism after suffering from it.
The length of your stay depends on the severity of your case, how long it takes to get your body regulated again, and whether you suffer complications.
Find Treatment For Alcoholism
If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol abuse, you must seek help. The most common treatments for alcoholism include:
- Inpatient or residential treatment: Inpatient treatment involves staying at a rehab facility for several days, or even weeks or months, where care is available to you at all times. It provides a higher level of support and structure but also the highest investment of time by people struggling with addiction. If you are dedicated to getting sober and surrounded by professionals who want the best for you, inpatient treatment can change your life.
- Outpatient treatment: This type of treatment is less time and energy-intensive than inpatient treatment and may be prescribed after a period of inpatient treatment. The premise for these programs, as well as the care provided and activities performed (like behavioral therapy), are similar to inpatient programs. However, you can spend the nights at home, study, and even work, attending sessions in the time available.
- Partial hospitalization programs: Also less intensive than inpatient programs but slightly more intensive than outpatient programs. You still spend the night in the facility’s premises and engage in daily activities, but you can spend more time outside the premises during the evenings and weekends.
The treatment you receive depends on your specific needs and the severity of your case. Regardless of the exact program you go through, what’s important is that it will give you the tools you need to overcome addiction and avoid conditions such as alcoholic ketoacidosis.
