Learn about the symptoms and timelines of alcohol withdrawal and how undergoing detoxification under medical supervision might help you avoid problems.
When trying to stop drinking, those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may encounter painful and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms. People may be able to prevent unneeded suffering or perhaps fatal withdrawal issues with the aid of a medically supervised detox.
Seeking professional assistance can help if you or someone you know is having trouble controlling their alcohol consumption.
Any time of day, our admissions navigators are accessible to speak with you about treatment. Please call us at (844) 569-1713.
How Does Alcohol Detox Work?
The first stage of treatment for many people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is detox. Medical detox under supervision helps you control uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, lowers your risk of withdrawal-related problems like seizures, and keeps you as secure and comfortable as possible.
Alcohol Detox Procedure
The following three components will be present in most detox programs:
- A physical and mental health evaluation that will aid your care team in developing a treatment strategy.
- Stabilization, often known as the true withdrawal process, occurs while your body cleanses itself and becomes alcohol-free. Oftentimes, prescription medications are used in this process.
- Preparing for additional treatment. Many people continue their healing in inpatient or outpatient rehab after detox. Formal alcohol rehab treatment teaches you how to avoid relapse and assists you in identifying the underlying problems that contributed to the addiction.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
The severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms can vary. Your age, general health, how much and how often you drink, and the severity and duration of your symptoms are all related to these variables.
Mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Anxiety
- Headache.
- Insomnia.
- Tremor.
- Palpitations in the heart
- Problems in the digestive system.
The following symptoms of moderate withdrawal, in addition to the comparatively mild ones listed above:
- Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) (elevated body temperature).
- Diaphoresis (sweating) (sweating)
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) (rapid heartbeat)
- systolic blood pressure that is higher
- Tachypnea (rapid, shallow breathing) (rapid, shallow breathing)
- Confusion.
Seizures and delirium tremens can result from severe alcohol withdrawal (DTs). Delirium symptoms may include:
- Fever
- body trembling
- Severe disorientation or perplexity.
- Hallucinations.
- Agitation.
- Seizures.
Consult a doctor right away if you believe you or someone you know is going through this type of withdrawal.
When Do the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Begin?
As soon as 8 hours after the final alcohol, some mild withdrawal symptoms may be felt.
Additional withdrawal symptoms may continue to appear beyond 24 hours, with some potentially severe effects appearing 2 to 4 days following abstinence, depending on the range of physical dependence.
How Long Do the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Last?
Everyone experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms at a different time, although a full range of symptoms may last from a few hours to several weeks after withdrawal has started. Usually, two to three days after the last drink, the most severe symptoms start to appear.
In many cases, the physical signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal will start to get better completely within 5 to 7 days.
Treatment for alcohol withdrawal
According to the extent of the addiction, the degree of alcohol dependence, and the possibility of going through a difficult withdrawal, the type of detox program, the length of the alcohol detox timeline, or the level of intensity required for efficient alcohol withdrawal management will vary.
Prior to making a recommendation for the degree of detox care and detox timeline required to keep a person safe and comfortable, a doctor or other treatment professional may assess for the aforementioned reasons.
For those with a low risk of experiencing a severe withdrawal, outpatient alcohol detox may be a reasonable option. Regular check-ups in outpatient clinical settings (such as a doctor’s office) allow for the monitoring of withdrawal progress and, if necessary, the escalation of care.
People who are at risk for moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms and require 24-hour medically supervised detox services may benefit from inpatient alcohol detox.
To ensure that the patient is not in danger, staff at these detox programs will frequently examine for any withdrawal issues and monitor the patient’s recovery progress.
During the procedure, benzodiazepines or other sedative medications may be given. Additionally, inpatient detoxification keeps patients a little bit away from environmental and social triggers that can raise the chance of relapse.
Alternative Alcoholism Treatment Programs
It may be advised to enroll in an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program to continue working toward recovery and relapse prevention after detox has been completed successfully.
A comprehensive treatment program for alcohol use disorders may include the following services:
- Group therapy
- Individual guidance
- Family therapy
- Meetings of a support group
- Wellness pursuits
- Medication Assisted Treatment
In order to prevent previous habits and pinpoint the roots of addiction, persons who are battling with alcohol abuse can benefit from behavioral therapy.
