Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse involve drinking patterns in which periods of heavy drinking are followed by periods of abstinence. Alcohol generally has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system (CNS): it reduces the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters and improves the activity of inhibitory neurotransmitters and therefore their receptors. After prolonged exposure to alcohol, the body activates a set of mechanisms to counteract the effects of the persistent presence of alcohol in the brain. These mechanisms promote the activity of excitatory neurotransmitter systems and suppress the activity of inhibitory neurotransmitter systems, thereby attempting to return brain function to a “normal” state in the presence of alcohol. However, when the individual stops drinking, these adaptive changes result in an imbalance in inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission, leading to CNS hyperexcitability that produces alcohol withdrawal (AW) symptoms. This essay will focus on the major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission systems and the symptoms produced in AW due to the imbalance of the brain. Followed by describing other physiological changes associated with AW. The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which exerts its effects primarily through the GABAA receptor. Alcohol exposure results in activation of the GABA receptor, which results in reduced excitability of postsynaptic nerves and thus contributes to the sedative effects of alcohol. In response to chronic alcohol exposure, the CNS adapts to alcohol-induced GABAA activation by reducing GABA-mediated neurotransmission. Thus, after chronic alcohol exposure and during withdrawal, GABA activity at the synapse...... middle of paper ......e may affect seizure susceptibility and produce neuronal damage. Another neurochemical disturbance resulting from AW is decreased dopaminergic function. Dopamine-mediated neurotransmissions in various regions play a key role in mediating dysphoria associated with alcohol withdrawal and, therefore, reduced function alters the perception of alcohol effects. These physiological changes lead to withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, anxiety, toxic effects on nerve cells, and changes. perception of the effects of alcohol. Any of these symptoms can increase the patient's risk of relapse and vulnerability to brain injury. With repeated patterns of binge drinking and abstention, the imbalance occurring during withdrawal may intensify with each successive episode and may result in a state of persistent CNS hyperexcitability considered a heightened withdrawal response...