Alcohol Detoxification
Detoxification from any addictive substance is a major step toward regaining control over one’s life. Anyone getting an alcohol detox means that they are willing to get rid of the dependency and are already on their way to recovery. However, this process isn’t as straightforward as it may sound. Attempting to quit alcohol cold turkey without medical supervision can be life threatening and may even result in death.
The withdrawal effects can get so intense that it may even cause a person to fall back into the addiction. At Rehab Today by PCP, we understand the challenges that may occur when one decides to quit addiction. Medical help from trained medical professionals is essential to manage severe withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications. It’s for this reason that our experts provide the most curated supervised care to our patients so no one feels alone during this phase.
Read this guide to learn more about alcohol detox and how professional care from PCP can make this journey easier. Prescribed medication may be used to ease withdrawal symptoms, and detox is just the first step in addressing an alcohol problem.

What Is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a chronic disease. It is characterised by binge drinking alcohol or committing compulsive behaviour under the influence of alcohol. The condition isn’t about consuming a shot or two. Instead, it involves drinking alcohol regardless of what is going on around in the surroundings or what time of the day it is. Individuals who are dependent on alcohol often struggle to control their alcohol intake, which can lead to serious health and social consequences.
Alcohol addicts may often suffer from health conditions as well as many other social problems. These people are usually confined to their own spaces and avoid socialising much with others due to the fear of being judged. Amidst all this, their ability to conduct their daily responsibilities suffers the most. They are no longer able to continue their jobs or spend quality time with family.
How Does Alcohol Interfere with the Brain?
In terms of alcoholism, our brain is the organ that suffers the most. Alcohol modifies the communication pathways of our brain, thus changing the way it functions. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, and its depressant effects slow down brain activity. As a result, when under the influence, we aren’t able to think critically, make decisions or even remember anything. The effects of alcohol on the brain include impaired decision-making and memory.
Physical Impact
Alcohol abuse not only affects the working or thinking ability of our brain, but it also targets its structure. Any human organ, including the brain, has a specific set of cells, which must be in the best condition possible to function properly.
Alcohol can shrink these cells or even cause damage to them when used for the long term. And sometimes vital cells responsible for maintaining balance and coordination can suffer the most, resulting in problems related to motor skills.
Chemical Impact
Consuming alcohol can also significantly impact the chemical makeup of our brain. It can interfere with the way neurotransmitters convey messages. According to many studies, when alcohol is consumed, it boosts the neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of pleasure.
Aside from making a person feel relaxed, this sudden rush of chemicals also suppresses the neurotransmitter responsible for reasoning. And this instant feeling of pleasure every time a person drinks compels them to consume another shot. When the behaviour is repeated for a long time, the brain may form a dependency on alcohol and may require it to feel relaxed.

Withdrawing From Alcohol
One cannot quit drinking right away the moment he or she has decided to do so. When people stop drinking suddenly, they may experience mild symptoms at first, but these can quickly escalate to severe symptoms. Even if a person intends to, they will have a high chance of relapse due to the withdrawal symptoms they may experience.
Alcohol stays in our bodies even when we have stopped consuming it. Additionally, our brain being dependent on it also takes quite some time to forget its effects. The onset and severity of withdrawal symptoms often depend on when the last drink was consumed. So, when one has stopped drinking, their brain can still have a strong craving for alcohol. This urge to feed the addiction can result in some very adverse consequences, also known as withdrawal symptoms. Some withdrawal symptoms can become a medical emergency, requiring immediate attention.
Professional care during detox can ease withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and prevent complications, ensuring a safer recovery process.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may start as mild, however it doesn’t take much time to have them spiral into severe complications. Consumers may first start to have anxiety or restlessness, and when left unmonitored, these can result in seizures.
Some other alcohol withdrawal signs may include:
● Mood irritability
● Vomiting or nausea
● Tremors
● Increased heartbeat or breathing rate
● Insomnia
● Muscle aches or headaches
● Inability to think or decide
These symptoms can often get worse with passing time, and one may have no other choice but to relapse. It is for this reason that it is not advised to conduct an alcohol detox on your own. Professionals know how and when to address every withdrawal effect most safely.
At PCP, our experts ensure that every detox plan is tailored just according to the needs of each individual. Our plan of action ensures that the withdrawal process is made as comfortable as possible for every of our clients.
Timeframe
Eliminating alcohol from a human body can take a bit of time. This period may be characterised by varying symptoms, which we will be discussing below:
● 1 to 3 Days: This is the acute phase and starts after 4 to 6 hours of the last alcohol dose consumed. Some common effects may include anxiety or nausea, which may also lead to severe consequences such as losing consciousness. Professional support can prove to be a great help during this time.
● 4 to 7 Days: As the 4th day starts, the symptoms may peak and may start to subside by the 7th day. During this window, many can also face delirium tremens (DTs), a medical condition characterised by rapid heartbeat or high blood pressure.
● Up to 3 Weeks: At this time, our body has adjusted to the absence of alcohol. Physical symptoms may have vanished, but the psychological symptoms, such as anxiety or irritability, can still occur. Therapy or counselling must be arranged to address these issues.
● Month and So: Many psychological as well as physical symptoms may have subsided. Even if any of the withdrawal impact is still there, the ongoing support slowly and gradually elevates it.
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Understanding the Body’s Detoxing Mechanism
Alcohol isn’t eliminated from our bodies in its initial form. It is broken down into other byproducts and is then eliminated through urine. The organ that plays a major role in this elimination is our liver.
It is the liver’s duty to convert alcohol into less harmful components and then have it pass through urine or sweat. Nevertheless, the process isn’t as easy as one might think. It can often harm the liver, causing it to malfunction. As a result, one can expect the detox process to take even longer to complete.
Can You Do an Alcohol Detox at Home?
No, you must not attempt to conduct alcohol detox at home on their own. The process is characterised by severe complications that an individual might be unable to manage without proper support. Professional guidance in this instance can help in making the whole process more manageable. These experts can aid in handling:
● Severe Withdrawal Symptoms: Sometimes, alcohol detox symptoms may not be as mild as having nausea or headaches. Instead, it can consist of hallucinations or DTs, which might be managed only with proper medications. A licensed healthcare practitioner can only determine the prescription you will be consuming.
● Dehydration: Alcohol detox can cause a person to vomit or have diarrhoea dangerously. As a result, this individual might lose important electrolytes from their body and become severely dehydrated. It is important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated during detox. Medical staff can assess the person’s condition and suggest treatments according to their body needs.
● Relapse: The Chances of relapse can get as high as 60% during the detox process. Professional help in this instance can provide an appropriate treatment plan, which can reduce the occurrence of relapse.
Medical professionals can also provide a range of treatment options tailored to individual needs.

How Does Professional Alcohol Detox Happen?
Detox is a medically supervised procedure and is conducted under the observation of a healthcare practitioner. These experts do not initiate the detoxification process haphazardly. Instead, they design strategically planned treatments personalised for every individual so their detox process remains easier on them. Detox may be conducted on a residential basis, with residential treatment providing comprehensive support and medical supervision throughout the process. Medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms is often used to ease physical dependence and improve comfort during detox. Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) emphasize care excellence and health and care excellence, ensuring that treatment standards are evidence-based and of the highest quality.
PCP is a leading provider of effective detox procedures. The alcohol detoxification process here starts with:
Conducting a Comprehensive Medical Assessment
Detox related to any addictive substance, including alcohol, starts with an initial assessment from a professional medical officer. This involves asking questions about when an individual started drinking and how often they consume alcohol.
Moreover, this investigation may also involve discussing whether the person has attempted detox in the past. If he has done this before, he will be asked how he relapsed and what the cues were that triggered him the most. Here, a person’s role is to answer all the questions honestly and genuinely help the doctor to devise a structured plan.
Preparing a Personalised Alcohol Detox Plan
Once the healthcare professional has obtained all the necessary information, they will then prepare a tailored recovery program. This plan may consist of:
● Necessary withdrawal medications such as Benzodiazepines or Naltrexone.
● Nutritional intake instructions, like what to eat and drink.
● Time frame in which the detox process may occur.
● The rehabilitation program one will be having.
Starting the Detox Process
When the patient and doctor have both agreed on the treatment plan, the detox program begins. The person undergoing the treatment stops consuming alcohol completely. In between this, the medical supervisor will monitor the patient’s vital signs for complications. As the phase can be emotionally exhausting, individuals are also provided with counselling throughout the process.
Consistently Monitoring Medications
Healthcare professionals constantly monitor the effects of withdrawal medications administered to each patient. This is because some medicines can react and make the detox process even more difficult. Doctors, for this reason, strictly observe a medication’s effects on a patient. And if they find that any medicine is not working or is overreacting, they change the prescription on the spot.

Devising an Ongoing Recovery Treatment Plan
Detoxification from an addictive substance doesn’t mean the addiction is cured. To ensure a long-lasting sobriety, it is important to take care of the aftercare procedures. Professionals, by the end of the detox process, can help in deciding what steps one should take next. Further treatment, such as counseling or therapy, may be necessary to address the root causes of addiction and support ongoing recovery. Support programs like SMART Recovery can also provide additional tools and resources for long-term recovery. They can suggest:
● Regular Check-Ins With a Mental Healthcare Practitioner.
● Rehabilitation Programs (inpatient or outpatient rehabs)
● Getting Behavioural Therapies. Most usually, they will advise going through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
● Relapse Prevention Plan. Experts will help in identifying triggers and will then suggest coping strategies accordingly.
● Improving Lifestyle and Habits. This may involve the doctor explaining how and why one needs to get rid of a certain habit or lifestyle.
Tips to Ease the Detox Process
Detox is an overwhelming process, but it can be made bearable by:
● Always Adhering to Medical Guidance.
● Staying Hydrated, Rested, and Nourished.
● Prioritising Supportive Environment.
● Identifying and Avoiding Triggers.
● Joining Support Groups.
● Working On Stress Management Techniques.
PCP Paving the Way to Lasting Sobriety
To sum it up, detox is a tiresome phase that can take a toll on your physical as well as emotional well-being. It can make you think about resuming the addiction and falling into the trap of dependency once again. Professional support at this stage can make the whole detox process safer and easier to handle.
With PCP, you can expect to have this kind of curated and personalised care. Our experts are trained to treat each and every person going through addiction as a separate entity. This makes our services highly effective and long-lasting than conventional recovery programs.
Secure yourself an appointment with us today and regain control over your life