If you are thinking about quitting drinking, talk to your healthcare provider. Medical supervision, behavioral health treatment, and mutual-aid groups can help you through alcohol withdrawal and stay stopped. This article discusses alcohol withdrawal, its symptoms, and potential complications. It also provides an overview of the alcohol withdrawal timeline process and when to discuss your drinking with your healthcare provider.

• Alcohol dependence, also known as ‘alcoholism’ or alcohol addiction, is serious and can lead to a range of health problems.
• Try to stay focused on your end goal, and call your doctor if something doesn’t feel right.
• Certain factors may increase your chances of experiencing alcohol use disorder.
• If you’ve been drinking heavily or for long periods, the impact will be more pronounced, and it will take longer for your neurotransmitter systems to restore their balance in your body.

Doctors sometimes prescribe acamprosate, disulfiram, or naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism. Medication has several advantages in the treatment of alcoholism https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-is-a-high-functioning-alcoholic/ and plays an important part in helping people achieve sobriety. They are extremely useful for alleviating the pain and dangers of withdrawal during detoxification.

What to Expect and How to Prepare for Alcohol Detox

If you suddenly stop drinking or significantly reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it can cause AWS. Nutrient deficiencies are common in people with alcohol use disorder and may be treated with a nutrient-rich diet, drinking enough water, and regular use of vitamin supplements. If you need to detox from alcohol detox side effects home, consider seeking medical advice and asking for support from family or friends, who can call for help if medical complications occur. While medical detox is the gold standard for alcohol detox, not all people addicted to alcohol can, or may necessarily need to, enter a detox facility for 24-hour care.

If you drink only once in a while, it’s unlikely that you’ll have withdrawal symptoms when you stop. But if you’ve gone through alcohol withdrawal once, you’re more likely to go through it again the next time you call it quits. Alcohol withdrawal is a potentially serious complication of alcohol use disorder.

What is Delirium Tremens (DT)?

Your CNS must work harder to overcome the depressant effects of alcohol to keep your body functioning. Each of these symptoms can increase in intensity depending on the severity of the withdrawal. They should also make sure you attend your counseling appointments and visit the doctor regularly for any routine blood tests that may be ordered. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. Alcohol detox side effects include both physical and psychological aspects. You nor your loved one are under any obligation to commit to an Ark Behavioral Health treatment program when calling our helpline.

• It’s recommended, however, that they have someone stay with them who can help during recovery.
• People typically experience the most intense withdrawal symptoms at the onset of the detox process.
• In some people, the symptoms may subside quickly within 5-7 days of manifesting.
• It may also reduce the activity of glutamate, an amino acid that has been shown to play a role in withdrawal.
• Over time, your central nervous system adjusts to having alcohol around all the time.

If you have decided that it is time to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption, knowing what happens to your body when you stop drinking can give you a better idea of what to expect. In some people, the symptoms may subside quickly within 5-7 days of manifesting. However, you should always keep in mind that some symptoms show up late or peak in severity long after you stop drinking.