Alcohol Detox is a period of time, usually supervised by a treatment team, when an individual reduces their drinking or quits entirely. It is the first step in a process that often leads to recovery and long term sobriety. Alcohol detox is a difficult and sometimes dangerous process and should always be carried out under the care of doctors or addiction specialists. If a person attempts to detox from alcohol without professional help, they could face serious complications such as seizures or delirium tremens.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects the body in several ways. It slows the brain’s natural production of dopamine and serotonin, which can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. It also causes the liver to produce toxins that can cause nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Over time, prolonged alcohol abuse can even alter the DNA in the brain and create physical changes that can cause cravings.
Many people are hesitant to begin the alcohol detox process because of fear of withdrawal symptoms, which can be quite severe and dangerous. In this article, we will discuss what alcohol detox is, the symptoms to be aware of and how a person can safely and effectively go through alcohol detox.
When a person has a problem with alcohol, they will become dependent on it to function normally. When a person suddenly stops drinking, their body will react by producing withdrawal symptoms. Depending on how much a person drinks, how long they have been using alcohol and their overall health history, withdrawal symptoms can vary from mild to severe. In the most severe cases, withdrawing from alcohol can be life-threatening.
The alcohol detox process is broken down into three stages. Stage one begins around 6 to 12 hours after the last drink and typically involves relatively mild symptoms such as a headache, insomnia, anxiety and small tremors. In some cases, a person can experience visual or auditory hallucinations.
Stage two of the alcohol detox process is when the most severe symptoms appear. These may include increased blood pressure and heart rate, confusion, high body temperature, and abnormal heart rhythms. During this phase, a person is at the highest risk of seizures and can experience agitation, tremors, hallucinations, and delirium.
During alcohol detox, it is important to stay hydrated with water and avoid caffeine and other stimulants that can increase the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. It is also helpful to have a supportive network of friends and family to provide emotional support and make sure that the person has limited access to alcohol. Having a place to stay that is alcohol free is helpful as well.
Alcohol detox is typically done under the supervision of medical professionals at a detox facility. Addiction specialists will perform a thorough drug and psychiatric assessment of the patient at the beginning of the detox program to determine whether they are at risk of developing severe withdrawals. They will then develop a personalized detox plan that includes medications to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms, treat co-occurring disorders and help the patient reach a state of mental and physical stability. Benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepoxide (Valium) or lorazepam (Ativan) are most commonly prescribed for the alcohol detoxification process to manage anxiety, sleep disturbances and muscle spasms. They may also prescribe antipsychotics such as haloperidol to combat any hallucinations that the patient experiences during detox.
