Ready to Quit Drinking? Here’s What to Expect During Alcohol Detox
You are here:If you’ve tried to quit drinking but keep relapsing, you need professional alcohol detox. Few people want to go through detox due to fear of the unknown. What happens? How long will it take? Does it work? Those are valid concerns about the process and the following answers may help you make the decision to seek treatment for your alcohol addiction.
What Is the Purpose of Alcohol Detox?
Detoxification is the first step in alcohol addiction recovery. The purpose of professional detox is to provide a safe, medically supervised process to cleanse the body of toxins that cause withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the addiction. For that reason, you should not attempt detox on your own.
3 Phases of Alcohol Detox
Each detox program differs in its approach and philosophies, but they generally adhere to the same basic format. Typically, a detox program consists of 3 phases: evaluation, stabilization, and treatment. The evaluation phase involves assessing your level of addiction and determining the specific treatment that you will need. The stabilization phase involves counseling, medication (if necessary), and participation in peer and family support groups. The last phase involves entering a rehab program.
Withdrawal Symptoms During Detox
During detox, you may experience physical and psychological symptoms. Your body is learning to adapt to the absence of alcohol, so the process takes a little time. Typically, the severity of withdrawal symptoms varies with each person, but the most commonly experienced symptoms are:
- Anxiety, agitation
- Restlessness
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
- Mood swings
- Poor concentration
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Memory problems
- Insomnia, nightmares
- Hallucinations, delusions
- Tremors, seizures (DTs)
Several factors determine the severity of withdrawal symptoms during alcohol detox. Your age and general health, how long you’ve been drinking, and how much you drink will affect the intensity of withdrawals. With professional detox, you’ll be monitored throughout the process to ensure your safety and comfort.
How Long Does it Take to Detox from Alcohol?
You will remain in detox until you are medically ready to enter the next stage of treatment. The duration will vary from person to person, but typically the first symptoms appear within six to twenty-four hours after your last drink and may last up to a week or more.
At the initial onset of symptoms, you may experience:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Heart palpitations
- Anxiety
- Heavy sweating
These symptoms may last from 6 to 12 hours.
After the first 12 hours, the initial symptoms may continue as other symptoms emerge, such as auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations. These symptoms may persist for about 48 hours.
By the second or third day of alcohol detox, more intense symptoms may occur such as delirium tremens(DTs) which is characterized by these symptoms:
- Rapid heart rate
- Agitation
- Sweating
- Fever
- Hypertension
- Disorientation
- Hallucinations
DTs typically occur in cases of severe alcoholism and generally peak within five days.
Alcohol Detox Medications
Medications are available to help manage some of the effects of withdrawal. The most commonly used medications include benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Lorazepam (Ativan), and Oxazepam (Serax).
Other medications that help control withdrawal symptoms include barbiturates, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and beta blockers.
Medication management after detox helps address cravings for alcohol during early recovery. The medicines include disulfiram, naltrexone, or acamprosate.
Does Detox Work?
Detox works, but it is not a cure for addiction. The process of detoxification mainly addresses the physical aspect of substance misuse. After detox, you will need to address the mental and emotional issues that contributed to your alcohol use to ensure lasting recovery.
Studies show that the majority of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also struggle with mental health issues like PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and more. These disorders often lead to risky behavior and self-medication with drugs or alcohol. Successful addiction recovery is unlikely to happen until the mental disorders are addressed.
A professional rehabilitation program provides various therapies to address mental health issues and addiction simultaneously. Our full continuum of care at Design for Change Recovery includes a perfect combination of therapies that promote mental and physical healing while also restoring self-esteem and building confidence. Our goal is to heal the whole person, not just treat the physical addiction.
Effective Alcohol Detox and Rehab at Design for Change
Design for Change Recovery is a JCAHO-accredited facility that provides superior client-focused treatment for alcohol use disorder. You’ll receive compassionate care from our highly skilled and devoted staff. We provide a comforting, secure environment where you can leave the outside world behind and focus on healing and gaining the skills to function in society as a sober individual.
We are in-network with major insurance companies to ensure the highest level of care for your situation. If you don’t have insurance, other financial arrangements may be available. Contact our Lancaster, CA facility to speak with a treatment advisor to learn more.
If you’re ready to quit drinking, don’t let the fear of detox keep you away from treatment. We know what you need to get your life back on track.
Sources:
nida.nih.gov – Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide
samhsa.gov – Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment
