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Alcohol Detox Length

Detox is the initial period an alcoholic or drug addict experiences when they cease using a drug they have become dependent upon. It is necessary for recovery to begin, because the body must be freed of toxins and withdrawal from alcohol before a patient can begin the lifelong process of refraining from alcohol and understanding their addiction.

  1. Detox Period

    • Typically, a detox period lasts between three and seven days. This depends on the severity of the addiction and the specific patient. If the acute detox--the time when the patient is actually withdrawing from the drugs--occurs at a rehabilitation facility, generally the patient's time in the facility does not end with the detox program. The average length of stay for patients in an in-patient facility is 6 weeks, as a patient spends several weeks following the acute detox period in recovery, taking classes and undergoing therapy to understand and manage their addiction.

    Minor Withdrawal Symptoms

    • Certain minor symptoms associated with acute detox or alcohol withdrawal can begin as soon as the patients blood alcohol drops below the level their body has become accustomed to. Most commonly, these symptoms begin to occur within 6 to 12 hours after the patient stops drinking. Minor symptoms include anxiety, an upset stomach, a headache, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, shakiness, insomnia and anxiety. These minor symptoms generally persist for the entire 3 to 7 day detox period, although they may lessen as the days pass.

    One Day Into Detox

    • After a patient has been in detox for between 12 and 24 hours, more severe symptoms can begin to occur. These symptoms include hallucinations induced by alcohol, and/or seizures caused by the bodies withdrawal from alcohol (although seizures can actually begin within 2 hours of blood alcohol levels dropping, they begin most commonly and/or peak 24 to 48 hours after detox begins). Typically, the hallucinations peak at between 12 and 24 hours after blood alcohol levels drop, and the hallucinations stop after 48 hours from the time detox began.

    Several Days Into Detox

    • After a patient has been in detox for 48 hours, the patient may begin to experience delirium caused by alcohol withdrawal. Visual hallucinations may begin or become worse. A patient may also begin to experience a feeling of extreme agitation. Tachycardia, hypertension, diaporesis and a general feeling of confusion or disorientation may be common. These symptoms generally begin within 48 to 72 hours, but reach their heights 5 days after detox began. They persist until the body is fully detoxified, usually within 7 days from the drop in blood alcohol level.

    Alleviating Symptoms

    • The symptoms and side effects associated with detox can be managed, their severity lessened and/or the length of time they persist shortened. Rehabilitation facilities, doctors and out-patient caregivers can provide drug treatment including the use of beta blockers, phenytonin, carbamazepine, haloperidol, benzadiazepine and clonidine.

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