Detoxing From Alcohol

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, each year, more than 1.5 million people in the United States enter alcoholism treatment or are admitted into a hospital because of severe symptoms from alcohol detox. Alcohol detox can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the individual and the severity of the disease, including how long an individual has been drinking.

If you or a loved one suffer from alcohol addiction and are ready to take the necessary steps to quit, there are a few things you need to know about alcohol detox. Also, if you need help getting through safe alcohol detox, FHE can provide assistance.

Detoxing When Suffering From An Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholism often brings with it sever withdrawal. Symptoms occur most often in older adults who have drunk heavily for years, though they can also occur in anyone who drinks heavily when they decide to stop suddenly.

Ranging from mild to serious, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the depressive effect alcohol has on the nervous system. Alcohol slows down brain function and changes the way your nerves send messages back and forth throughout your body. It can also significantly shrink the size of your brain, which can limit your cognitive performance. Essentially, over time, your central nervous system adjusts to having the alcohol around, so the sudden removal of it can be system shock causing a variety of reactions.

When a person drinks alcohol, the body works harder to keep the brain alert so the nerves can send messages. If the level of alcohol in the blood suddenly drops during alcohol detox, the body continues to stay in the keyed-up state which causes the withdrawal symptoms.

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What Are the Dangers of Quitting Drinking Cold Turkey?

The first step toward recovery is the decision and a commitment to stop drinking. A person may think they can quit on their own; however, it’s important to choose a treatment program that provides safe alcohol detox to help reduce the symptoms and effects of alcohol withdrawal.

When looking for treatments, many individuals ask, “Is it dangerous to stop drinking alcohol suddenly?” The answer is, “It depends.” According to Dr. Richard Saitz, chair of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, “Quitting can be done safely and is safer than continuing to drink heavily.” If you haven’t been drinking long, you may be able to use a program like Alcoholic’s Anonymous or an outpatient clinic. However, if you’ve been drinking for many years, inpatient treatment is often the best choice. It’s important to remember that each person can physically handle alcohol differently and will react to withdrawal differently as well.

Alcohol detox can cause a wide range of serious symptoms as the central nervous system starts to adjust to the lack of alcohol. First, when alcohol is removed, the system is thrown out of balance and in a hyper-sympathetic state. This causes a rapid heartbeat, higher temperatures and sweating. These symptoms may present similarly to a bad hangover.

Individuals with severe alcohol addiction often go through alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) and experience delirium tremens (DT), which can be an extremely serious and even fatal condition. According to the National Center for Biotechnical Information, DT occurs as early as 48 hours after a person abruptly stops drinking and can last as long as five days. Without treatment, DT has an anticipated mortality rate of up to 37% without appropriate treatment.

Other things that can happen when you quit cold turkey include:

What Are the Treatment Options for Alcohol Detox?

There are two basic options to detox from alcohol: inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. With inpatient treatment, you live in a rehab facility surrounded by a team of professionals who provide care around the clock to help get you through the process. With outpatient treatment, you live at home at night but return to the facility during the day to get emotional and medical help. There are some other factors to consider with both.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient alcohol detox is typically more of a commitment of time and investment. Often insurance will cover a period of treatment, but many people are reluctant to spend the time focusing on their alcoholism. Doctors may administer medication to help make withdrawal symptoms safer and more tolerable. Also referred to as medically assisted detox, inpatient treatment takes anywhere from 5 to14 days depending on the severity of your symptoms.

Inpatient treatment is ideal for those who have been drinking so long that alcohol detox poses a deadly threat. It is also the method of choice for those who have too many temptations at home to complete the detox on their own.

In inpatient treatment, you may have access to amenities like holistic classes, exercise groups, prepared meals, group therapy and programs such as art therapy and yoga that help you find relief and take your mind off the detox process.

The biggest challenge with inpatient treatment is returning home to the lifestyle you lived when you were abusing alcohol. The key is a loving support system of family and friends. Once treatment is over, patients should participate in support groups and keep all follow-up appointments with their therapist and physician.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is ideal for those with a solid support system at home. It’s a less expensive option for those with mild or moderate addiction. It is also perfect for people in good physical and mental shape and for those who haven’t been drinking very long.

According to Scientific American, the success rates for treatment programs vary depending on the facility.

What Are Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal During Detox?

When left unmanaged, alcohol detox can be extremely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal causes an imbalance of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which can have both negative physical and mental symptoms. This includes:

Alcohol abuse also affects the levels of dopamine in the brain, which is linked to the body’s reward system. When you refrain from drinking, this pleasure center affects how much energy you have, your enjoyment of everyday activities and your motivation to even get up in the morning.

When you drink, you build a higher tolerance for alcohol, so the body becomes more dependent on alcohol to feel good. When long-time drinkers stop drinking, they may experience the following symptoms:

Alcohol Detox and FHE Health

In Florida, FHE Health provides treatment for alcohol addiction and can help you get through alcohol detox safely. We offer an initial assessment to determine the severity of the addiction and the method of treatment that would be best for you. After our initial assessment, we prescribe medications to help control the effects of withdrawal and to address any underlying medical issues that could hinder your success.

Detoxing in a treatment facility away from family and friends may seem intimidating, but our caring professionals provide 24/7 monitoring to ensure you have the therapeutic support you need. Our trained medical professionals are on hand if any needs arise and are trained to treat any situation, so you can trust you are in the best hands possible.

For more information on Florida alcohol detox with FHE, contact us at (833) 596-3502 for an initial consultation. Our counselors are standing by 24/7 so you can get the help you need when you are ready.