For millions of people, the journey to sobriety is a frightening task due to the withdrawal period. Medical alcohol detox is the step of the journey that makes it easier for individuals to quit drinking. Alcohol detoxification is a medically supervised process to manage medical complications. This step involves slowly reducing alcohol dependence. The body adjusts itself to function without alcohol and as a result causes withdrawal symptoms. Only medical experts are qualified to handle these symptoms. Medical detox is the safest and most effective step of a treatment program leading to a sober life for individuals with alcohol addiction.
What Is Medical Detox and Its Benefits:
Medical detox is a supervised process to safely manage the withdrawal symptoms when someone quits a substance. Quitting a substance ‘cold turkey’ is risky and can cause health problems. Medical detox reduces these risks and helps patients manage discomfort and ensures their safety.
Medical detox offers a lot of benefits other than making alcohol withdrawal manageable. Continuous medical supervision, FDA-approved drugs, and emotional support are a few of them.
- Safety First: Medical detox is all about safe withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal has life-threatening implications. Medical detox makes sure the detox process is safe, easy, and comfortable for the patients.
- Comfort and Symptom Management: It reduces pain and discomfort due to the severity of symptoms. And makes the process more tolerable.
- Higher Success Rates: The chances of a successful detox drastically increase when you choose medical detox.
- Foundation for Further Treatment: Medical detox sets the base for further treatment. It improves mental health and physically prepares the individual for the next stages of addiction treatment.
Medical Alcohol Detox:
Alcohol medical detox reduces the life-threatening risks due to non-consumption of alcohol. Attempting detox alone is dangerous because of severe risks of seizure, delirium tremens, hallucination, and cardiac arrest. Individuals are put under 24/7 medical supervision during their medical detox to alleviate these symptoms.
Attempting alcohol detox alone puts you under life-threatening risks. During medical detox, medical experts manage withdrawal symptoms. This makes this process safe and more comfortable for the patients.
Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms:
People experience severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit or reduce their alcohol consumption. It happens because their body tries to adjust itself without alcohol. These symptoms range from mild to severe depending on the intensity and duration of alcohol addiction. Medical detox handles these symptoms effectively. Symptoms include:
- Mild: Tremors, anxiety, nausea, headaches, sweating, insomnia.
- Moderate: Increased heart rate/blood pressure, fever, confusion, agitation.
- Severe: Seizures, DTs (disorientation, severe agitation, fever, hallucinations), severe dehydration.
These symptoms can get worse suddenly. Medical experts are trained to handle them properly. Alcohol withdrawal is difficult to manage alone. Medical experts advise consulting a professional for your alcohol addiction treatment.
Medical Alcohol Detox Process: A Step-by-Step Overview
Medical detox is the first step of alcohol addiction treatment. This step prepares the patient for the treatment and involves stopping alcohol consumption. It allows the body to remove alcohol from the system and adapt to the new changes. Medical detox is a systematic approach with these steps:
Initial Assessment:
When you enter a rehab center for addiction treatment, you go through a set list of medical evaluations. These include physical evaluation, mental health history, or addiction history. Doctors perform blood tests and toxicology screenings to check the severity of your alcohol addiction. They use an instrument called CIWA-Ar for this process. These early assessments help medical experts develop a personalized treatment plan for your addiction treatment or any other health problem.
Medication Management:
Most treatment programs include medical detox which involves medication assisted treatment to reduce symptoms and other complications. Health professionals use FDA-approved benzodiazepine drugs to ease withdrawal symptoms. Commonly used benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal symptoms include diazepam, lorazepam, and chlordiazepoxide. Some antipsychotic drugs are also used for hallucinations or delirium and mental disorders during the withdrawal period.
Constant Medical Monitoring:
Medical detox offers 24/7 supervision by medical professionals who constantly monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature for severe cases. This constant supervision allows medical intervention to the escalating symptom or any medical emergency. Detox is a life-threatening process if attempted alone. Always look for medical advice from medical professionals before attempting detox.
Supportive Care:
Alcohol addiction makes the body weak by reducing nutrient absorption and lowering essential vitamins and minerals. The detox process itself can also lead to physical weakness, making nutritional support essential. During medical detox, rehabs offer nutritional support and increase fluid intakes of the patients. Patients live in a comfortable, quiet environment with therapists who offer continuous medical care.
What to Expect During Alcohol Medical Detox:
Medical alcohol detox is all about managing withdrawal symptoms. You face many symptoms of different severity depending on several factors such as addiction severity, duration, and your physical health. Every individual’s body reacts differently to alcohol withdrawal. But it follows a general timeline. These symptoms last for several days and start from mild to severe as time passes Here’s a common timeline of how it happens:
Timeline of Withdrawal Symptoms:
- 6-12 hours:
Individuals begin to feel withdrawal symptoms as early as 6 hours after they stop drinking. These include mild symptoms like tremors, anxiety, headaches, or insomnia.
- 12-24 hours:
Mild symptoms persist during the 24-hour window. Some intense symptoms start appearing like hallucinations within 12-24 hours.
- 24-48 hours:
After 24 hours the mild symptoms go away, but intense symptoms are more likely to stay for a few more hours. Individuals are at risk of a potential seizure during this window and medical care is essential.
- 48-72 hours:
Within 48-72 hours, delirium tremens can occur, which marks the peak of withdrawal symptoms.
- Beyond 72 hours:
Symptoms are uncomfortable and intense before resolving.
Medications Used in Alcohol Detox
Medical detox for alcohol involves the use of medications to manage the withdrawal symptoms. Each medication is administered to handle a particular symptom. The main class of medication used for alcohol detox is benzodiazepines, which are often used along with some other supportive medications to improve the effectiveness of medical detox. Although these medications can differ as per your treatment program.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are depressant drugs used to reduce the brain overactivity caused by the alcohol withdrawal. These drugs prevent withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and delirium tremens. The drug tapering method is employed to manage their doses during medical detox. Some benzodiazepines used for detox are
- Diazepam
- Lorazepam
- Chlordiazepoxide
Other Supportive Medications:
Some other medications are also used to manage the psychotic withdrawal symptoms of alcohol detox. For example, to reduce risks of seizures and convulsions, anticonvulsant drugs such as valproic acid are used during the detox. Similarly, anti-nausea medications are used along with benzodiazepines to improve the effectiveness of treatment. Some other drugs can be used to treat mental health disorders.
Who Needs Alcohol Medical Detox?
Medical detox helps individuals safely start their journey to recovery and prevent withdrawal symptoms. It is the way forward for individuals with severe and prolonged alcohol use. It suits the needs of people who have any co-occurring disorder or mental health condition. For individuals without a safe, supportive environment for detox, medical detox is the perfect choice to support recovery. Any person who has had a failed attempt at detoxing alone can benefit from medical detox.
Choosing a Medical Detox Facility:
Medical detox is the foundation of addiction treatment, as it prepares the individual for the further process. So, it’s crucial to choose the right rehab facility to safely detox. Before making your choice, look for the accreditation and license of the rehab center. Take a look at their staff qualifications and testimonials from past clients for their medical treatment. Make sure they have a residential treatment facility, outpatient program and personalized treatment plans designed for your needs and goals for recovery. Visit their center and see the environment and facilities offered, then make an informed decision about choosing a medical detox facility.
Why Choose House of Zen:
House of Zen offers safe detox services in a supportive environment. With 24/7 medical supervision, inpatient/outpatient treatment, personalized treatment plans, and evidence-based therapies such as medication assisted treatment, we ensure your detox journey is both comfortable and effective. From emotional support to nutritional care, House of Zen is where long-term recovery begins.
Beyond Detox: The Next Steps Towards Lasting Recovery
Detox is not a cure; it only tackles physical dependence. Detox is followed by inpatient or outpatient care for a complete recovery in a treatment center. It is continued treatment which usually consists of therapies, support groups, and aftercare. Medical detox makes the detoxification process comfortable and easy for the patients. Recovery is a long process, and medical detox paves your way to it. It is the safest and simplest path to start your journey to a healthy, fulfilling, and sober life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I do alcohol detox at home?
It is not medically advised to do alcohol detox at home due to severe withdrawal symptoms. Consult a medical professional before attempting so you can detox safely without any complications.
Is medical detox safe?
Yes, medical detox is done under the supervision of medical professionals trained in managing withdrawal symptoms in a proper treatment center.
How long does alcohol medical detox last?
It depends on the severity and duration of addiction. But in most cases medical detox usually lasts for 5-7 days.
What if I have to take medication for a medical condition?
Our medical professionals perform pre-assessments for your medical conditions and create a personalized treatment plan to manage your medical condition in our treatment center.
Can medical alcohol detox treat alcohol addiction?
Medical alcohol detox is the first step to alcohol addiction treatment. It doesn’t cure alcohol addiction but makes the remaining treatment process easier.
