Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms, Treatment and Alcohol Detox Duration

Benzodiazepines should never be stopped cold turkey as doing so can lead to life-threatening seizures. A person detoxing from benzodiazepines should only do so under the care of a medical professional. The side effects of drug withdrawal will vary greatly depending on the substances a person is addicted to and the severity of their addiction.

A doctor will consider all these factors when estimating how long-lasting and how severe your symptoms may be. One of the most significant benefits https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/teenage-alcoholism-dangers-of-underage-drinking/ of giving up alcohol is that you may increase your lifespan. Alcohol misuse can lead to serious health problems like liver disease and cancer.

How To Find An Alcohol Detox Program

A person should seek help if they notice that they or someone they love has symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Seeking help can be challenging for alcohol detox side effects the person who is struggling with addiction. Loved ones and friends can help by letting the person know that they are not alone in their struggle.

These stimulating chemicals work to balance out the depressive episodes of heavy drinking. If someone has any of these risk factors, medically monitored detox is typically necessary to avoid possible complications or death. DTs can affect breathing, cause dangerously high blood pressure, increase heart rate, and interfere with the ability to regulate body temperature.

Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Dehydration and nausea are common withdrawal symptoms for people with alcohol consumption disorders. If you’re dealing with dehydration or nausea, drinking plenty of fluids, particularly those containing electrolytes, will help. Some of the best beverages to drink are sports drinks that have lots of sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. You’ll also want to drink plenty of water because it may reduce cravings for alcohol. The worst of the symptoms usually go away during the first week, but some of the less severe ones might linger for months or even years. A medically assisted withdrawal reduces the likelihood of life-threatening consequences, allows for constant monitoring of your health, and reduces pain and discomfort.

These conditions include gastrointestinal bleeding, infection, intracranial hemorrhage (acute bleeding in the brain), and liver failure. Inpatient treatment, or staying at a hospital or care facility, may be necessary for someone with moderate to severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Inpatient treatment allows healthcare professionals to monitor you for DT or hallucinations, monitor your vitals, and administer fluids or medicine intravenously if needed. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal delirium include withdrawal seizures that can occur between 8 and 28 hours after your last drink. Signs of an impending seizure include tremors, increased blood pressure, overactive reflexes, and high temperature and pulse.

Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal

It’s very important to seek help if you struggle with alcohol use disorder. It is possible to get treatment and live a healthier life with a better relationship with alcohol. If you or someone you know wants to stop drinking, it’s best to do so under medical supervision.

• Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are commonly experienced by people with alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder, who quit drinking alcohol.
• Unlike acute withdrawal, PAWS symptoms are usually more psychological and emotional.
• Find answers to frequently asked questions about alcohol detoxification.