Leaving a bad habit is always good riddance. And one such habit you should drop is alcohol addiction. When a person becomes dependent on substance abuse, such as alcohol use, stopping it can be highly challenging. A few signs of alcohol addiction include:

Short-term memory loss
Changing appearance or friends
Extreme mood swings
Experiencing blackouts
Feeling hungover
Isolation
Irritability
Making excuses to drink
Drinking in secret or alone

Many people experience severe or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms after a sudden cessation of alcohol. Alcohol detox occurs when a person stops drinking and toxins start to flush out from the system. Also, alcohol detox takes time and depends on several factors, such as the duration, intensity of drinking, and whether an individual has experienced alcohol withdrawal before.To know more about alcohol detox and how long it takes, keep reading this article.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

The presence of alcohol disrupts brain chemistry and downcasts the function of the central nervous system (CNS), leading to feelings of relaxation and euphoria. And because your body works to maintain balance, it signals the brain to produce more neurotransmitter receptors that stimulate the CNS again. Hence, when you stop drinking, the alcohol is flushed out from the original receptors and the additional receptors your body made. As a result, the nervous system becomes more active and causes symptoms such as:

Nausea
Rapid heart rate
Tremors
Sweating
Anxiety
Irritability

In severe cases, these withdrawal symptoms can become worse. You may experience delirium tremens (DT) and associated symptoms, such as:

- High body temperature
- Hallucinations
- Illusions
- Seizures

Paranoia

Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

In most alcohol rehabs, healthcare professionals often use medications with addiction treatment programs like a detox to treat withdrawal symptoms. For example, benzodiazepines are prescribed to manage seizures and other symptoms. In alcohol rehab, healthcare professionals will monitor patients during the detox period. They will assess everything from their body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing rate. If a person detoxes slowly, they experience few withdrawal symptoms. When a person chooses to detox gradually over several weeks, the doctors or healthcare providers available at rehab develop a structured schedule for them to follow. This schedule helps them to decrease their dependency on alcohol. The doctors might also make dietary changes or recommend certain supplements, such as Vitamin B1 and B9. These supplements help the body to cope with the decreasing alcohol intake.

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline

According to numerous studies, general guidelines that you can expect during alcohol detox are as follows:

6 Hours

People with a prolonged history of heavy drinking may start experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, about six hours after their last drink, compared to the minor withdrawal symptoms a regular addict would experience.

12 Hours to 24 Hours

Some people going through alcohol withdrawal may experience hallucinations at this point. Hallucination is a condition in which a person sees or hears a sound that is not there.

24 Hours to 48 Hours

During these hours, minor withdrawal symptoms, including headaches, tremors, and stomach upset, tend to continue. For someone who experiences only minor withdrawal, their symptoms peak at 18 to 24 hours and then decrease after a few days.

48 Hours to 72 Hours

A few percent of people may experience severe alcohol withdrawal, such as delirium tremens (DTs). In this condition, a person can have a very high heart rate and body temperature and undergo seizures.

72 Hours

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are at their worst at this point. However, in rare cases, moderate withdrawal symptoms such as rapid heart rate and illusions can last for a month.

Find the Best Alcohol Detox Rehab Centre

Alcohol detox is a painful experience, especially if a person has a prolonged history of alcohol drinking. Because the body becomes so dependent on drugs, it fails to function without them. Hence, when a person identifies their addiction and decides to quit, they should seek professional help. The quitting may include admission to alcohol rehab or working with medical professionals to reduce the alcohol consumption gradually for several weeks. The healthcare professionals will help determine your overall health and alcohol abuse history to help you manage the withdrawal symptoms and recover from addiction. To know more about alcohol detox in detail, contact the addiction treatment centre near you today!