The Best Ways to Detox from Alcohol

Best Way to Detox from Alcohol

Alcohol is a poison to the body. Prolonged exposure through repeated alcohol abuse can cause not only an addiction but a physical dependence, too. Breaking this physical dependence requires that the withdrawal symptoms run their course. However, withdrawal from alcohol is both uncomfortable and dangerous, which is why medical assistance is often needed. To better understand how to deal with the problem, we will explore the best ways to detox from alcohol below.

Detox from Alcohol Risks

There are significant risks are involved with detoxing from alcohol. Once a dependency has formed, suddenly stopping alcohol use can cause a severe reaction as the body tries to return to normal function.

A person can expect to experience many of the following common alcohol withdrawal symptoms:

• Mood swings
• Cloudy thinking
• High levels of nervousness or anxiety
• Shakiness
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Nightmares

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal differ from person to person, but may include:

• Appetite loss
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Heavy sweating
• Tremors
• Rapidly beating heart
• Vomiting and nausea

Severe cases of alcohol withdrawal, usually associated with long-term dependence, include the following symptoms known collectively as delirium tremens:

• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Severe confusion
• Agitation
• Fever

Delirium tremens can be so severe that it can lead to death if it is not managed medically. This stresses the importance of looking for the best ways to detox from alcohol.

Best Way to Safely Get Through Alcohol Withdrawal

Since alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a person looking to stop their addiction is strongly advised to get medical assistance before attempting to deal with the symptoms alone.

One of the best ways to detox from alcohol is through medical detox. Medical detox is a program that rehab centers such as Discovery Point Retreat offer that can help to safely manage the symptoms that manifest during alcohol withdrawal.

A medical detox, or a medically-assisted detox, is a rehab program that provides around-the-clock medical care during the roughly ten days it takes for the body to return to normal function after alcohol dependence. It also utilizes FDA-approved medications that are highly effective at managing and reducing the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. These medications are crucial in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal.

Some of the medications that you can expect include benzodiazepines such as Librium, Valium, and Tranxene, and barbiturates among others. They help by treating symptoms such as anxiety and seizures. All of the major symptoms are dealt with through medication and the person in recovery is monitored to ensure that prior medical conditions and the withdrawal itself don’t cause dangerous outcomes.

Stopping alcohol abuse for good

While the best ways to detox from alcohol such as through medical detox can help to break a physical dependence safely, it cannot treat addiction by itself. The root cause of the abuse of alcohol needs to be explored and dealt with in order to lead to long-term change, and not lead to relapse.

To achieve long-term sobriety, further behavioral therapy is required along with a whole-patient approach to treatment that aims to improve all areas of a person’s life to prevent future alcohol abuse. Other aspects of treatment include exploring the possibility of co-occurring mental disorders, such as PTSD, that may be contributing to the abuse of alcohol.

To gain access to an accredited medical detox center, and the other treatments that are needed to beat addiction in the long term, contact Discovery Point Retreat today at 855-306-8054.