Why you need medical supervision for alcohol detox
Alcohol detox (or detoxification) is one of the most vital and necessary steps to recover from alcohol addiction. It is aimed to ease the symptoms of an alcohol withdrawal syndrome for an alcohol-dependent person to help them move forward in dealing with their addiction. In most cases, professional medical supervision for alcohol detox is essential.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can affect both mental and physical health, especially after long-term and excessive alcohol consumption. Due to the high possibility of side effects occurring during the detoxification, it is crucial to ensure that medications and medical monitoring accompany this process.
In this article, you will find information about the process of alcohol detoxification, which medications are commonly used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and why you need medical observation.
What Is alcohol detoxification?
Alcohol detox is a process of first stopping alcohol consumption and then gradually weaning your body off its dependence on alcohol over a period of time. Alcohol detoxification aims to alleviate the most severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome’s when deciding to stop drinking alcohol.
The duration and intensity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome vary from person to person and depends mainly on the amount of alcohol consumed and the type of alcohol used. Personal factors are age, health, sex, and if the person has any other co-occurring mental or physical health disorders.
Regardless of the presence of other co-occurring medical problems or family history of mental illness, everyone who drinks heavily will experience the effects of alcohol withdrawal syndrome at some point, even if they take short-term breaks from drinking. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome usually begins within six hours to 12 hours (or even up to 72 hours) following the last drink taken.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur when an alcoholic reduces or stops drinking alcohol altogether. Some people may experience only mild symptoms that can be managed without medication or medical supervision.
In some cases, however, the symptoms may be more intense and require medical treatment. That is when you should consider a rehab centre to get full-fledged support – for example, ARC addiction recovery centre allows clients to attend support groups and activities during their detoxification at the facility.
How Is alcohol detox performed?
Appropriate medical supervision for alcohol detox is very important. Detoxification should be done under a physician or psychiatrist’s supervision to ensure that the treatment is safe and effective. Medical observation during this period provides that your detoxification is quick and efficient so that you will spend limited time suffering from withdrawal symptoms. For initial treatment, here is what you should know:
Seeking medical attention before starting alcohol detox
If you have decided to undergo alcohol detoxification, get help from your physician or psychiatrist right away before starting your detox regime. Your doctor will assess how severe your addiction is and how appropriate it is to receive medical treatments during your detoxification process.
A doctor will also evaluate any co-occurring disorders you may have, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, eating disorders, other substance abuse disorders, etc., and recommend appropriate treatment options for them.
After assessing your situation, your doctor will formulate a detox plan based on the results that will include medications, support groups, dietary restrictions, etc., depending on your needs. You must carry out all instructions given by your doctor to ensure success with your detox plan.
Knowing what to expect
Knowing what physical and mental changes you can expect during this period will help you cope with them better.
People undergoing alcohol detox often feel physical symptoms, including:
- nausea
- vomiting
- aches in muscles and bones
- palpitations
- sweating
- chills
- fever
- loss of appetite or increase in appetite
- headaches
- sleep disturbances like insomnia or nightmares
And mental health symptoms, including:
- anxiety
- irritability, anger, restlessness
- depression
- confusion
- substance cravings like a strong desire for alcohol or other substances associated with your addiction
- suicidal thoughts or feelings
- trouble concentrating or making decisions
- feeling isolated and withdrawn from family and friends
You should not be alarmed if you experience any of the above symptoms. They are a natural response to your body’s dependence on alcohol and are only temporary. You will feel better soon once you detox from the alcohol.
How long does alcohol detox last?
The length of time it takes for alcohol withdrawal syndrome to subside entirely varies from person to person. In general, the treatment is scheduled for 2-3 weeks. The length of time required also depends on the severity of your condition. If you have been addicted to alcohol for a long time, it will take a longer period to recover.
Medications used for alcohol detoxification
Certain medications can help reduce the severity of the symptoms during alcohol detoxification to ensure your well-being and make your journey toward sobriety a success. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Agmatine Sulphate. Commonly used during alcohol detox, agmatine sulphate is a type of medication known as an NMDA receptor antagonist. It has been shown to reduce the pain associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome and enables you to get some restful sleep after discontinuing alcohol consumption.
- Acamprosate. It is another medication that helps prevent relapse in people who have achieved sobriety. It binds with GABA receptors in the brain, which help control alcohol cravings and relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc.
- Baclofen. It is a muscle relaxant that reduces the severity of muscle cramps during alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It also increases the effectiveness of other medications administered during detoxification.
- Benzodiazepines. These are sedative agents that induce sleep and relieve anxiety and tension symptoms during alcohol withdrawal syndrome. They may help treat insomnia, muscle spasms, tremors, sweating, etc.
- Clonidine. It is a centrally acting blood pressure medication used to treat high blood pressure and anxiety disorders like panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc., as well as alcohol withdrawal symptoms like severe anxiety, agitation, irritability, etc.
- Dextroamphetamine. It is a central nervous system stimulant that relieves fatigue, depression, and irritability associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome so that you can get some rest and cope better with the discomfort you are experiencing.
Conclusion
Alcohol detox is beneficial in easing the discomfort during the early stages of recovery from alcoholism. It allows you to focus on your treatment and healing without worrying about experiencing withdrawal symptoms or relapsing due to these painful symptoms.
Alcohol detox allows you to relax and relieve yourself from physical and emotional stress caused by your addiction and gives you a chance to start afresh. It also helps you cope with the changes in your life while recovering from alcoholism.
And importantly, you must have appropriate medical supervision for alcohol detox