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Duration of Alcohol Detox Symptoms

The first step in recovering from alcoholism after acknowledging the problem and resolving to get help is getting the alcohol out of your system. In cases of alcohol abuse, which isn't the same as alcoholism, the patient has not yet become physically addicting and can detox with fewer side effects. Alcoholics, on the other hand, have developed a dependence and may suffer severe withdrawal symptoms. The specifics and duration vary from patient to patient, since each individual has developed different dependence levels.

  1. Duration

    • Whether mild or severe, alcohol detox symptoms typically begin within eight to 12 hours after the patient consumes his last drink, according to reports from the National Institute of Health. They increase in intensity over the next two to three days before peaking and gradually tapering off. NIH data maintains that it takes about five to 10 days for all signs of alcohol withdrawal to leave the body, but certain symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, exhaustion and mood swings, can last for up to a year.

    Mild Detox Symptoms

    • Mild symptoms of alcohol detox, as defined by the NIH, can include cases of the shakes, difficulty sleeping and wild mood swings. Most of them are tolerable at this level. However they may be accompanied by severe cravings for more alcohol, which may be difficult to control. They tend to appear within a few hours after drinking and can last for up to 14 days.

    Moderate Detox Symptoms

    • According to the the NIH and the Mayo Clinic, moderate symptoms appear with patients who are more physically dependent upon alcohol and begin at about the same time mild symptoms do. They can include more severe instances of shakiness or insomnia; sweating, especially in the palms, which can become quite clammy; headaches; vomiting; and dilated pupils.

    Severe Detox Symptoms

    • In the worst cases of alcoholism, detoxification can create intense and disturbing symptoms, according to the NIH. The patient may hallucinate and see visions of things that don't exist. Blackouts can occur, erasing entire periods of memory, and the patient may suffer from physical convulsions. In many cases, he may develop a fever as well, and emotional agitation can be quite intense. These symptoms tend to peak within 72 hours, but may last for days longer, depending upon the patient.

    Treatment

    • Because withdrawal can be dangerous, the Mayo Clinic stresses that hospitals or other qualified medical facilities must monitor patients carefully. In instances where a patient detoxes at home, he needs to be monitored by a responsible party at all times and stay in regular contact with a doctor. More severe cases of alcoholism require in-patient care, which allows doctors to monitor heart rate, blood pressure and breathing as well as providing sedatives and fluids to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Speak to a doctor before undergoing alcohol detox, and be prepared to ride out withdrawal however long it may last.

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