Detox From Alcohol

Alcohol dependence is a serious medical issue that, if prolonged, can affect all aspects of health and well-being.  For those with severe alcohol addiction who wish to stop drinking but avoid the discomfort of withdrawal, medical detox is a viable option.

Medical alcohol detox is a safe, effective way to ease the symptoms of withdrawal, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful drinking cessation.  The process involves administering controlled doses of medication to lessen the effects of withdrawal on the body.  This is usually the most comfortable way for serious drinkers to rid their systems of alcoholic toxins.

Many people with alcohol dependence issues continue to drink even if they don’t want to simply to avoid adverse withdrawal side effects.  Signs of alcohol withdrawal include nausea, shaking, cold sweats, headache, muscles aches, and fatigue.  These symptoms can appear just hours after drinking and can last up to a week or more if left untreated.  Delirium tremens is a much more serious form of withdrawal that strikes about one in 20 people.  Symptoms usually present two or three days after drinking and can last for a week or more.  Delirium tremens includes severe tremors, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, seizure, and dehydration.

When a patient begins a supervised alcohol detox, a general practitioner will often implement the following course of treatment:  A high dose of medication—generally chlordiazepoxide—is administered for the first day after the patient’s last drink.  Over the next five to seven days, the dosage is gradually decreased as unpleasant withdrawal symptoms ease, and the medication is stopped once the patient has demonstrated complete withdrawal.  Regular follow-up visits with a nurse or physician and the support of family and friends are greatly encouraged to help the patient stay on track.

For patients requiring more intensive therapy, alcohol detox can be performed at a specialized substance abuse treatment facility.  This kind of detox cleanse is appropriate for those who have previously tried to quit and were unsuccessful, for those with a weak or non-existent support system, those with a history of delirium tremens or other severe withdrawal symptoms, those with a physical ailment caused by prolonged alcohol dependence, or those with mental health issues.  The benefits of in-patient therapy include around-the-clock monitoring by medical professionals experienced in alcohol detox procedures and a built-in support system of doctors, nurses, counselors and other patients.

Any kind of medical alcohol detox comes with a small risk of side effects.  These can include nervousness, sleeplessness, anxiety and some very mild withdrawal symptoms like nausea and muscle aches.  Vitamin supplements can be used to boost nutrition during the body detox and to prevent complications caused by vitamin deficiency.

While alcohol detox can dramatically ease discomfort during withdrawal and can greatly affect a patient’s chances for success, it does not prevent cravings from returning and does not address the underlying mental, social or behavioral factors that contribute to alcohol dependence.  Additional services such as counseling or psycho-therapy may be needed following detox to form a comprehensive treatment plan.