Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal Information

Alcohol detox (withdrawal) can only be safely done under medical supervision.
Alcohol detox can be defined as a period of medically monitored and supervised withdrawal from alcohol while the alcohol is dispersed from the body. Alcohol detox can be life-threatening. Alcohol detox can cause pain and suffering. The process of alcohol detox can be traumatic. Detox from alcohol, also know as withdrawal, can cause complications. The signs and symptoms of acute alcohol detox and withdrawal begin to appear between 6 and 48 hours after heavy alcohol consumption decreases. Appropriate treatment for alcohol detox and withdrawal is to relieve the patient’s discomfort and prevent the development of serious symptoms. Hospital (or equivalent) admission provides the safest setting for alcohol detox and withdrawal.

During alcohol detox, a person is helped to overcome the physical dependence on alcohol. The process of alcohol detox can be traumatic. Alcohol detox has the potential for triggering any number of side effects. These can range from mild to quite severe. Mild reactions to alcohol detox can include tremors (the shakes), headaches, vomiting, perspiration, restlessness, lose of appetite and insomnia. More serious effects of alcohol detox can be Delirium Tremors (DT’s), autonomic hyperactivity and seizures (convulsions). It has been estimated that 1 in 4 patients are at high risk of a withdrawal seizure if not medically treated during alcohol detox. The time necessary for alcohol detox can be anywhere from 3 to 14 days. A variety of medications and procedures are used to detox from alcohol in a medical environment. Buprenophex, certain benzodiazepines and anticonvulsant medication are some of the more common drugs used.
Withdrawal treatment (alcohol detox) provides the opportunity for engaging the individual in long term rehab and recovery.