Quitting alcohol is a good step, especially when recognizing its destructive effects on your health. (Check suboxone treatment richmond for proper assistance)
There are several ways to get free from alcohol addiction, detox is one of them. Alcoholics who wish to quit may want to try this process alone, but it’s not advisable.
If you want to know the duration of detox before meeting with your doctor, read on.
Alcohol Withdrawal And Symptoms
Alcohol weakens your central nervous system which in turn causes a euphoric feeling and easiness.
Many people experience alcohol withdrawal when they decide to quit consuming alcoholic drinks.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal start after your last drink. These symptoms manifest as a result of the uneasiness of your brain and nervous system when there is an urge for alcohol.
Your brain receptors have normalized the intake of alcohol, so when you stop drinking, there will be negative reactions.
These withdrawal symptoms are;
- Anxiety
- Nauseating feeling
- Speedy heart rate
- Shakiness
- Easily irritated
- Confusion
- Mood swings
The length and impact of withdrawal symptoms vary based on weight, age, and how the individual has been drinking.
Alcohol Detox Duration
The body drains the remaining alcohol out of the system. This allows for a safe treatment since the system is free of alcohol.
The patient experiences cravings for alcohol. The duration and process of detox can be grouped into four
- 6 to 12 Hours.
This is the first stage of having withdrawal symptoms. The patient may have seizures after six hours, this happens if the patient has a long history of alcohol consumption.
Symptoms like nightmares, stomach upset, tremors, migraine, and low appetite will surface at this stage for both light and heavy drinkers.
- 12 to 14 Hours.
At this time, patients may experience moderate withdrawal symptoms. Hallucinations are one sign peculiar with this stage.
They may hear and see things that don’t exist, which will cause fear. The impact of this symptom worsens between 18 to 20 hours.
After four to five days, there can be a decrease for light drinkers. Heavy drinkers, it could last more than that.
- 24 to 48 Hours
At this stage, patients may experience moderate withdrawal symptoms. They may also experience mild seizures, but the impact can lead to life-threatening conditions.
- 48 to 72 Hours
This phase may look like a relapse, patients may experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
Some may have delirium tremens (DTs). This effect can cause increased blood pressure, chest pain, extreme confusion, disorientation, increased high rate, fever, hallucinations, and agitation.
The impact of DTs can be fatal, hence, it is treated in a hospital with close monitoring and medication by the doctor.
The impact of this stage may last up to three days and can lead to death if proper medical attention is not administered.
On the other hand, patients who have less impact of DTs recover after five to seven days, then the alcohol starts to dissipate.
Note that there is no specific timeline for alcohol detox because it is affected by different factors. These factors range from the level of addiction, age, weight, present health conditions, and amount of alcohol consumed among others.