7 Things to Expect When Going Through Alcohol Detox

People who need to detox alcohol from their systems can expect to go through the following symptoms, with varying degrees of mildness or severity, of course – depending on how long they have been addicted to alcohol, how heavy a drinker they are, and their personal state of physical health and mental health at that moment.

The Withdrawal Symptoms from Alcohol Detox

Here’s what you can expect once the withdrawal symptoms start kicking in:

• Intense Cravings. The first few hours can be the most painful since your body is craving for something that you can’t have. This may even persist all throughout the detoxification process.
• Nausea and Vomiting. You will have the sensation of wanting to throw up or may even have dry heaves.
• Hallucinations. You will be seeing, hearing, and feeling things that are not really there and may cause you much panic, anxiety, and agitation.
• Tremors. It is to be expected that your hands and mind are all unsteady, and you have to be protected from falls due to your unsteadiness.
• Sweating. You may sweat a bit or sweat buckets, depending on the severity of your withdrawal.
• Headache. Some people suffer from headaches or feel that there is a thick band around their heads.
• Disorientation. Excessive intake of alcohol over prolonged periods does that. You don’t where you are and what you’re doing.

Withdrawal symptoms must be taken seriously for they can be a potentially life-threatening condition for men and women, especially if their state of health is not so great to begin with. The intake of alcohol is insidious, especially if taken over long periods of time and with great volumes of it.

Withdrawals can occur sometimes as soon as two hours after the last drink. At other times, it takes six to eight hours before withdrawal symptoms occur. The toughest part will be the first 48 to 72 hours, where the withdrawal symptoms will tend to peak, after which, it will start dissipating between the third and fifth to the seventh day.

Is Confinement Necessary?

Confinement will only be necessary if the symptoms are at their worst and the individual’s health is endangered because of other health complications like heart, lung, kidney, and liver diseases.

Only a qualified doctor can thoroughly check the individual suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The doctor will prescribe some blood and urine tests to check the alcohol level and total condition of the person needing assistance. It will be a thorough check-up to determine the actual state of health and extent of alcohol addiction of the person.

Other important tests will include psychiatric testing to determine if there is some form of mental illness in the person. The patient’s medical history will also be studied and reviewed to see any recurring patterns of alcoholism, withdrawals, and detoxification. Those who have had previous detoxification are at greater risk for delirium tremens (DT) which can cause great danger to the patient seeking recovery from his withdrawal symptoms.

The heart, mind, lungs and vital organs can only take so much abuse from substances, whether alcohol or drugs, or a combination of both, and as such, the doctor will have to look into the person’s capacity and the potential for complete healing.

The Best Measure

Persons, friends, and families serious about alcohol detox for their loved ones must ensure the latter be checked in full by a qualified physician or center. After which, only the physician, or a government body, can adequately determine if the person suffering from alcohol abuse or addiction must be institutionalized or can receive outpatient treatment.

This process usually takes a great toll on the patient and the people close to him, whether emotionally, physically, or financially. All must work hard to encourage this suffering patient to recover fully if he so desires it.

His House Rehab offers industry-leading Alcohol Detox Treatment. We were founded in 1994 and we base our Drug and Alcohol Treatment programs on five key principles: commitment, honesty, integrity, respect, and service. These five principles guide us in all that we do and all the care we provide. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your loved one.