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Alcohol Detox Suggestions

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults in the United States, have a problem with alcohol. The most frequent goal of treatment is abstinence from drinking, but if you're a heavy or chronic drinker, giving up alcohol can initially lead to unpleasant and even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Knowing how to get through detox is your first hurdle.

  1. Know the Symptoms

    • If you're going to stop drinking, it's important you know what to expect. The severity of your symptoms will depend on how much alcohol you've been drinking, how long you've been drinking and your general medical condition. Mild to moderate symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include shaking, sweating, nausea, headaches, anxiety, mood swings and intense craving for alcohol. Severe symptoms usually appear within 48 hours and can last for days. These symptoms include hallucinations, seizures and Delirium Tremens (DTs). Symptoms of DTs are confusion, disorientation, hyperactivity or a feeling of being unable to sit still, and life threatening changes in heart rate and blood pressure.

    Talk to a Doctor

    • Tell your doctor about your goal is to quit drinking. The doctor will have several questions about your patterns of alcohol use. Answer them honestly. The doctor is trying to figure out the best place for you to go through alcohol detox. According to Alcoholics Information, 95 percent of people who want to stop drinking can safely do so on an outpatient basis as long as they have support from a medical professional.

    Benzodiazepines

    • Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax, Ativan and Valium. With a doctor's prescription, they can be taken on an as-needed basis to help relieve mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Once you are through the discomfort of physical withdrawals, discontinue use of benzodiazepines. They are highly addictive, and you don't want to be in the position of trading one substance abuse problem for another.

    Inpatient Medical Detox

    • Some people cannot safely detox on an outpatient basis. People who require inpatient care tend to have a history of severe withdrawal symptoms, including seizures and DTs. They often have chronic alcohol problems and have made several unsuccessful attempts to detox on their own. Other considerations include whether or not the person has a co-occurring mental or physical illness or is pregnant and how much that person has been drinking recently. If you go to inpatient detox, staff will monitor your vital signs regularly, encourage you to eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water and be available to help support you through cravings. The staff at an inpatient detox can also provide IV fluids and strong medications to control the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.

    Ongoing Support

    • The worst physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal fade in a week or so. Once you are through physical withdrawals, you will have to deal with ongoing psychological symptoms, which include cravings for alcohol, anxiety and depression. These feelings put you at an increased risk of drinking again. Seek out support at a mental health center, substance abuse treatment center or peer substance abuse support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.

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