In addition to its effect on body temperature, alcohol interferes with normal sleep patterns. Relatively small doses of alcohol can cause early sedation or sleepiness, awaking during the night, and suppression of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is the dreaming stage of sleep; when REM sleep occurs near wakefulness, it often produces vivid hallucinations. Most people fall asleep easily after one or more alcoholic drinks3 but experience diminution of REM sleep. Drinkers who attempt to use alcohol as a sedative seldom attain a full night’s sleep, however; after several hours, the natural elimination of alcohol from the body produces arousal and sleep fragmentation. When chronic drinkers withdraw from alcohol, long-suppressed REM sleep may rebound excessively. Some authorities (Greenberg and Pearlman 1967) believe that delirium tremens (known as DT’s), a condition occurring 2 to 4 days after alcohol withdrawal that consists of trembling and agitation with hallucinations, overexcitation, fever, sweating, and rapid heartbeat, represents a state of continuous REM sleep. In addition, measurable insomnia may occur many weeks into abstinence.
