What is Alcohol Withdrawal?
Given the widespread prevalence of alcohol use (75% of Americans, 12 years and older, have consumed alcohol), it is not surprising that 28.9 million Americans suffer from alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder. Alcohol dependence can impact a person’s ability to function – physiologically, emotionally, and psychologically – and those same systems are affected during withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is the body’s reaction to the sudden absence of alcohol after prolonged, regular use. As the nervous system adjusts to functioning without alcohol, patients may experience a variety of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. When detoxing from alcohol, medical supervision is highly recommended to manage and monitor severe withdrawal symptoms to prevent complications safely.
Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Navigating the symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol is difficult because simultaneous physical and psychological responses can complicate recovery. For someone who has developed an alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder and abruptly stops drinking or significantly reduces their alcohol intake, the detox process can trigger a range of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Reactions can range from mild discomfort (headache, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue) to severe, life-threatening complications that require professional care and medical supervision. According to a recent PubMed Central study, “20% of [alcohol withdrawal] patients experience more severe manifestations such as hallucinations, seizures, and delirium.”
Before embarking on your recovery journey, it helps to identify the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal to manage a detox successfully.
- Anxiety
- Nausea/vomiting
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Extreme moodiness
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased breathing rate
- Profuse Sweating
- Delirium tremens (DT)
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Heavy alcohol consumption depresses your central nervous system and causes your brain to function differently. During detox, your brain tries to rebalance itself. The results? You can suffer from many of the withdrawal symptoms mentioned above.
Inpatient Alcohol Detox Can Save Your Life
Trying to detox from alcohol without medical supervision may be a noble idea, but it’s hard to manage symptoms on your own, and some alcohol withdrawal symptoms – like increased blood pressure and heart rate, hyperthermia, DT, and seizures – can be life-threatening.
While detoxing is a necessary first step in recovery, it is best done at a qualified inpatient alcohol detox facility that can continuously monitor your condition, administer medications to lessen the severity of symptoms, and help you understand when symptoms may need more intensive medical interventions.
Factors that Influence Withdrawal Severity
Several factors can affect the severity of withdrawal symptoms of alcohol:
- Duration and Amount of Alcohol Use: Long-term and heavy drinking significantly influence the risk of severe alcohol withdrawal reactions.
- Individual Health Factors: Personal factors such as age, genetics, and overall physical condition play an important role. For instance, fluctuations in blood pressure during withdrawal can complicate recovery and should be medically managed.
- Previous Withdrawal Episodes: Repeated detox attempts can cause a phenomenon known as kindling, where each successive episode of withdrawal intensifies the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Co-Occurring Disorders: Mental health issues like anxiety or depression can be exacerbated by the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, making professional care even more crucial.
What to expect during the various Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal
Understanding the alcohol withdrawal timeline and recovery stages is difficult for anyone trying to navigate recovery alone. At Buena Vista Recovery, patients often ask, “How long does alcohol withdrawal last?” or “How long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?” With years of detox experience, Buena Vista Recovery’s staff is committed to evidence-based care and can set expectations around the alcohol withdrawal timeline and support patients along the entire journey to recovery. Patients react differently to detox, so the severity and length of withdrawal symptoms can vary greatly.
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL TIMELINE
- Mild Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
After discontinuing alcohol consumption, many individuals begin to experience initial alcohol withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, tremors, headache, nausea, insomnia, and sweating. These symptoms can last up to a week and are the body’s first response to the sudden absence of alcohol. Withdrawal treatments include medications, IV fluids, talk therapy, exercise, and nutritious meals.
- Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Some patients experiencing moderate withdrawal symptoms may notice elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, confusion, and heightened anxiety.
- Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Severe alcohol withdrawal can be extreme and deadly if not medically monitored. More than 90 percent of alcohol withdrawal seizures occur within 48 hours after the patient stops drinking. Delirium tremens (DTs) are particularly concerning and can be life-threatening, with a reported 37% mortality rate.
In some cases, individuals also experience hallucinations—visual, auditory, or tactile—and other pronounced alcohol withdrawal syndrome symptoms, again underscoring the importance of having on-site patient monitoring and immediate medical attention available. Treatment at this stage often means hospitalization for life-saving medical intervention.
Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Effective treatment for alcohol use disorder (sometimes referred to as alcoholism) symptoms begins with addressing the immediate risks associated with withdrawal. At Buena Vista, our comprehensive treatment programs are designed to manage the full spectrum of alcohol withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively.
Inpatient medical detox is an important first step in ensuring patient safety during withdrawal. Our alcohol detoxprogram provides around-the-clock medical supervision to monitor the alcohol withdrawal symptoms timeline, help ease patient suffering, and mitigate the risks associated with alcohol withdrawal. Patients can expect a 5-7 day stay at an inpatient medical detox facility.
MAT uses targeted medications to alleviate alcohol withdrawal syndrome symptoms, stabilize blood pressure, prevent seizures, and reduce cravings. Buena Vista’s expertise in administering MAT is a cornerstone of our treatment for alcohol withdrawal strategy. MAT can extend well beyond inpatient detox and is used to promote long-term sobriety.
- Supportive Care
Inpatient supportive care offers benefits such as hydration, nutritional support, and rest. This approach, coupled with emotional support from healthcare providers, ensures that every patient receives comprehensive care throughout their recovery journey.
Conclusion
Addiction recovery is within reach. When you begin your recovery at a detoxification clinic, you receive medical care and individualized therapies to manage your reactions during all stages of alcohol withdrawal. The medical team and licensed providers at Buena Vista Recovery can help you successfully manage withdrawal symptoms and make you feel safe, secure, and cared for.
The teams at Buena Vista medically manage your discomfort from withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of serious complications so you can stay focused on earning your sobriety. Detoxification can be overwhelming for some patients, but with the right treatments and a team focused on your recovery, you can overcome the challenges associated with alcohol withdrawal. After successful detoxification, it is easier to maintain sobriety if you enter into an aftercare program that offers counseling, therapy, continued education, medically assisted treatments, and peer support groups to keep you accountable in your recovery journey.
Contact Buena Vista Recovery at (480) 999-0851 to learn more about treatment options and verify your health insurance coverage. You are welcome to visit any of our Arizona drug and alcohol treatment centers to start your recovery journey today.
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Cave Creek, AZ 85331
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Chandler, Arizona 85248
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