Alcohol Detoxification Process

For heavy drinkers whose bodies have become dependent on alcohol, quitting is more difficult than simply saying no to the next drink. Withdrawal symptoms can arise during attempts to cut down on alcohol or quit drinking entirely. Because dangerous, sometimes life-threatening symptoms can arise suddenly during alcohol withdrawal, medical detox is often recommended.¹

Why Get Help for Alcohol Withdrawal?

There are several benefits for getting professional help from a medical detox from a Newport Beach detox when you want to get sober:

• It can keep you safe. Alcohol withdrawal is not dangerous for everyone; however, it’s not always possible to predict who will suffer severe or life-threatening symptoms.³ Being in an environment that can provide continuous monitoring and a quick response in the event of an emergency can lend you peace of mind of knowing any complications that arise will be managed.
• It may help you avoid relapse. Even symptoms that aren’t particularly dangerous can be challenging or uncomfortable to deal with alone, which can lead to a return to use. Comfort care and medications available in a medical detox program can ease your distress as you overcome dependence on alcohol.³ Should you chose to detox in an inpatient program, you’ll have the added benefit of being in a safe, substance-free environment where you won’t have alcohol nearby.
• It can be an entry point to further treatment. Though it is a vital part of recovery from alcohol use disorders, alcohol and drug detox itself does not constitute a comprehensive course of treatment; it only addresses physical alcohol dependence and not the psychosocial issues that contribute to a person’s alcohol misuse.⁶ However, while in detox, individuals often start going to therapy or meetings, which can provide a helping step on the road to recovery.³

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal can be incredibly difficult and potentially life-threatening. Withdrawal symptoms may include:^2,3

The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens, a rare and potentially life-threatening event that occurs only in about 3%–5% of those experiencing alcohol withdrawal.⁴ DTs can occur as early as 2 days into the detox process and can last up to 5 days.⁴ Symptoms of DTs include:^3,4,5

• Racing pulse.
• High blood pressure.
• Fever.
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.
• Extreme agitation, excitement, or fear.
• Profound confusion.
• Hallucinations.
• Tremors.
• Seizures.*

Seizures may arise without other symptoms of delirium tremens.⁵  If seizures do occur, they generally happen with 1-2 days of the last drink. Should a second one come on, it will usually happens within 6 hours. Status epilepticus, a series of seizures that arise one after another, is a rare complication of alcohol withdrawal. ³

Risk Factors for Severe Alcohol Withdrawal

The severity of alcohol withdrawal can vary widely among individuals. Some people may not any experience many symptoms at all, while others may have a very significant, even life-threatening, withdrawal syndrome. Those who drink more tend to have more severe withdrawal.³

Withdrawal from alcohol may be worse for those who:^2,3

• Have a history of very heavy alcohol use.
• Have had an alcohol use disorder for a long period of time.
• Are older.
• Have one or more comorbid medical illnesses.
• Are dependent on other depressant drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines).
• Have had alcohol withdrawal experiences in the past.
• Have a history of DTs.
• Have extreme cravings for alcohol.
• Have abnormal liver function.

You can contact your physician or doctor if you have concerns about experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal.

Are You Ready for Alcohol Detox?

Excessive alcohol use can take a significant toll on your health and your life. If you’re coming to terms with alcohol’s negative impact on your life, you may be feeling ready to enter detox and get sober.

A feeling of readiness can be a benefit to you as you begin the path to sobriety. Detox is increasingly viewed as an action that should be undertaken when the patient feels ready.⁷ Motivation to enter and complete the detox process can be an important source of determination when facing withdrawal symptoms.⁸

It is important to know, however, that that you don’t always have to be 100% ready for treatment to be successful. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that unwillingness to enter treatment doesn’t necessarily correlate with treatment failure. Those who enter treatment involuntarily, due to a court order or family pressure, often have similar rates of treatment success as those who enter rehab voluntarily.⁶

The Alcohol Detox Process

Detox from alcohol can occur on either an inpatient or outpatient basis; however, inpatient detox is frequently recommended for those at risk of severe withdrawal or with a history of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.¹

Assessment

The detox process begins with an assessment, which involves:³

• An examination of the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
• Evaluating for any medical or psychiatric conditions.
• Assessing the risk of medical complications during withdrawal.

After a thorough assessment, management of alcohol withdrawal can begin in earnest. The process should be tailored according to the assessment made and include care for comorbid issues as well as medical interventions to reduce the risk of serious problems.³

Medical Supervision

During detox from alcohol, medical supervision can be an important component of the process. Inpatient detox programs, like our alcohol treatment center in Orange County, provide this supervision on a 24/7 basis, which can ease your mind and the mind of your loved ones as you go through what can be a physically demanding and sometimes dangerous process.

Medications for Alcohol Withdrawal

Medical withdrawal management may involve the use of certain medications to ease symptoms and prevent medical emergencies:^{1, 3}

• Benzodiazepines may be used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and to prevent the onset of seizures or DTs. Long-acting benzodiazepines such as Librium and Valium are safe and are effective in staving off rebound symptoms (such as seizures) that can sometimes occur near the end of the withdrawal period. These medications may be administered as needed and given in smaller and smaller doses until they are eventually discontinued.
• Anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine, may also be used to relieve the symptoms of mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal.
• Beta blockers and alpha-adrenergic medications (e.g., clonidine) can be given to manage symptoms like high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
• Antipsychotics may be used for those suffering from withdrawal delirium; however, doctors use these medications with caution because they can lower the seizure threshold, making seizures more likely.
• Relapse prevention medications such as naltrexone or acamprosate may be given during the latter part of detox to discourage relapse once the patient leaves and to provide a bridge into ongoing treatment.

Many people have questions about what medications are used during withdrawal. Your treatment provider can help to address any concerns or questions you have about which medications are used during detox and why, as well as the appropriate course of treatment for you or your loved one.

Continual Reassessment

Another important part of medical detox is continuous monitoring and reassessment. Because a patient’s condition can change quickly during alcohol withdrawal, medical detox providers perform periodic reassessments of the symptoms and the risk of complications along the way. ³

Adjustments to the withdrawal management process may be made as symptoms wax and wane.^{1, 3}

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction After Detox

Many rehab programs provide a full spectrum of care wherein patients can move from detox right into inpatient rehab or outpatient therapy. In some cases, therapy is initiated before the end of detox. This can make continuing the process of recovery very easy and smooth. However, you do not need to detox in such a program to access comprehensive care. Your detox treatment providers should be able to help you to arrange another form of drug rehab care—whether inpatient or outpatient or even mutual-help groups—so you can transition to further treatment without a significant delay. Leaving detox and waiting too long to address the psychosocial aspects of treatment may leave you vulnerable to relapse when you haven’t developed the strategies and coping skills you’ll need to maintain your recovery.^1,3

Treatment for alcohol addiction beyond detox may include:⁶

• Individual counseling.
• Group therapy.
• Family therapy.
• Relapse prevention.
• Social and/or legal services.
• Vocational support.
• 12-Step (e.g., AA) or secular (e.g., Smart Recovery) peer support or mutual help groups.
• Medication-assisted treatment (medications + behavioral therapy).

Alcohol Treatment in Orange County

Are you or someone you love in need of medical detox and inpatient alcohol rehab for substance use disorder treatment? Don’t wait. Alcohol addiction is a progressive disease that can worsen with time. Getting help may save your life.

Give us a call today at . Our compassionate and knowledgeable admissions navigators are here for you, and can answer all of your questions about detox and treatment, how to start admissions, and ways to pay for rehab, including using your insurance for addiction treatment.