Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal

woman sitting with doctor for an assessment for alcohol detox

Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal

 

woman sitting with doctor for an assessment for alcohol detox
The Best Detox Centers Utilize Modern Medicine for Maximum Comfort

Alcoholism is a debilitating disease that is as powerful as drug addiction. Help is likely needed to stop drinking. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be eased when detoxing from alcohol occurs in a medically supervised facility. Untreated symptoms can be life threatening. It is best to transition into a treatment facility directly after you complete the detox program.

Drinking more than you should? Drinking when you have promised not to? Getting angry when others comment about your drinking? These are signs that you may have an alcohol addiction problem. If you can’t stop drinking, get help now. Recovery Connection will help you or a loved one find an appropriate detox center for your needs.

Alcohol detoxification is the first step in the recovery process and should be followed by an alcohol rehab program. Entering a medically supervised facility is strongly recommended rather than attempting to detox at home.

Alcohol Detox

Alcohol detox is the first step to living a healthy, sober life. These programs help patients prepare for the hard but rewarding work of recovering from alcoholism. Research demonstrates that people who do not immediately enter rehab following the detoxification process are at greater risk of returning to drinking. Once that happens, the alcoholic will pick up where he or she left off. Negative consequences can rapidly worsen once an alcoholic returns to drinking.

The average alcohol detox procedure lasts 3-7 days. Medically monitored and supervised detox programs are staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and ensure that a patient’s medical condition remains stable. There are certain medications for the treatment of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal which are administered in  treatment centers. In medically monitored detox, all physiological and psychological changes can be addressed immediately. When alcoholics try to detox on their own or medical supervision is not round the clock, they place themselves at great physical and emotional risk. Alcohol detox is dangerous and extraordinarily painful when not properly managed.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

If you have become dependent on alcohol, please seek medical attention. It is not advisable to stop drinking on your own because your body will go through withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can be extreme and should be monitored by medical professionals familiar with the signs and symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms begin within 5-10 hours after a person’s last drink but sometimes peaks after several days of abstinence. Medically supervised detox can handle any medical and psychological complications of alcohol withdrawal. These may include:

Psychological Symptoms:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Nervousness
  • Emotional instability
  • Emotional fatigue
Physical Symptoms:

  • Nausea /vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Sweating
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Hand tremors
  • Involuntary movement of the eyelids
  • Loss of appetite
Severe Symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Blackouts
  • Convulsions
  • Seizures
  • Severe agitation
  • Delirium tremens

Withdrawal symptoms worsen before they begin to subside. Not everyone suffering from alcohol withdrawal experiences the same symptoms or intensity of symptoms. Symptoms vary depending on the alcoholic’s age, the amount of alcohol consumed and the length of time an alcoholic has been drinking. Withdrawal symptoms intensify if a person has previously gone through detox multiple times, especially if the detox processes were not medically monitored.

Why Go to Alcohol Rehab after Detox?

Alcohol detox is not enough to keep an alcoholic sober. Alcohol rehabilitation centers provide the alcoholic with detox as well as the necessary skills to maintain sobriety after treatment. Alcohol treatment programs provide a solid foundation from which alcoholics can personally grow in recovery.