Trained professionals can monitor, prevent, and treat potentially dangerous symptoms before they cause problems. By taking the risk out of alcohol detox, people with substance use disorder can put all their efforts into recovery. Specialists will also ask about any early symptoms the patient experiences and other information that might help ensure safe treatment. Post-acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms may flair up during times of stress or triggers.

Detoxing from home can be risky, especially if dangerous symptoms like delirium tremens develop. Over one-third of people with this side effect die without medical treatment. Detoxing from alcohol often takes about a week, but the time varies by person. Unlike other medications, disulfiram works by producing severe reactions if alcohol is consumed. For instance, if you drink while on disulfiram, you will experience unwanted effects like facial flushing, nausea, headache, weakness and low blood pressure. The negative effects are meant to deter you from continuing your drinking pattern.

How Long Does It Take To Detox From Alcohol And Why?

In this case, a person will likely go through withdrawal symptoms when alcohol starts to leave their system. The good news is that addiction treatment can help you avoid triggers, cope with cravings in healthy ways, and even go some way to reversing brain changes. With the right support, anyone can live a fulfilling life free from alcohol abuse. If you suddenly stop drinking, your brain continues to function in this new way without the presence of alcohol. This results in chemical and neurotransmitter imbalances that manifest as withdrawal symptoms.

Possible complications of severe alcohol withdrawal may include respiratory depression and arrest, pneumonitis, heart arrhythmias, and of course seizures. Your life is worth recovering for, and you can get through the detox process. The detox process can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of months, so it’s important to have the support you need to achieve the best results. Research has estimated 50% of people with a substance use disorder will experience withdrawal symptoms, and one-third of people will experience moderate or severe withdrawal symptoms. When a person stops drinking, their body, brain, blood levels and neurotransmitters go into shock because the alcohol they have become dependent on is no longer in their system.

Treatment

However, attempting to go through detox on your own can be incredibly dangerous. Not only can the intensity of withdrawal symptoms pose serious health risks, but they can also be harsh enough to push someone back to drinking. People in recovery often relapse because the withdrawal symptoms become too much to handle.

Their nervous system becomes overactive, which can lead to various symptoms. The duration of alcohol withdrawal will be different for everyone, and it mainly depends on how heavily and frequently alcohol was used. Physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms will normally peak around 48 to 72 hours after the last drink and last seven https://www.excel-medical.com/5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-living-house/ to 10 days, but they can last as long as two weeks. Symptoms that occur after two weeks are usually more psychological in nature and can last for several months in some cases. After completing a medical detox program, patients must continue with treatment to address and overcome their addiction at a rehab facility.