Recovery from alcohol addiction is a lengthy process, and the alcohol detox timeline involves several phases that are unique to each individual.
At PCP, we believe that alcohol detoxification is the first step towards recovery by ridding your body of alcohol through an alcohol detox. However, it is often a poorly understood part of the recovery process that deserves more attention.
Fortunately, we at PCP have both the knowledge and dedication to help you effectively deal with the challenges of alcohol detoxification and offer you an understanding of how long detoxification takes.
So, let’s explore the process of alcohol detoxification, look at the timeline for an alcohol detox, and break down how most detox programs are handled.
What Is an Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detoxification (commonly called an alcohol detox) is the process of ridding your body of alcohol when you stop drinking. Unfortunately, it is usually associated with withdrawal symptoms, which are typically uncomfortable and, in rare instances, may even be life-threatening.
The side effects of a detox occur because of the long-term effects of alcohol on brain chemistry. Alcohol affects several important chemical substances within the brain.
After prolonged alcohol use, the brain adapts by changing the activity levels of these substances to achieve some degree of balance. Therefore, when the body is deprived of alcohol, this tilts the brain into a sudden but temporary imbalance, leading to alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
How Long Does an Alcohol Detox Take?
The process usually lasts one to two weeks, though it may be longer or shorter for some individuals. There is no fixed timeline for an alcohol detox, and how long it takes depends on how long it takes for the body to adjust to the sudden absence of the depressant effects of alcohol.
Factors Affecting How Long a Detox Can Last
The duration of an alcohol detox can vary based on several factors:
● Length and severity of alcohol use. The longer and more intense your alcohol use, the longer the detox can take. Chronic users are also more likely to develop a protracted form of physical withdrawal symptoms called post-acute withdrawal syndrome.
● Individual metabolism. Each person’s metabolism is unique and affects how quickly substances are processed and eliminated from the body. Metabolism is usually affected by overall health, age, and genetics.
● Underlying medical conditions. Your health significantly impacts detox duration and the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Underlying medical conditions or poor health due to an unhealthy lifestyle may prolong the detox process, cause more severe withdrawal symptoms, and even lead to serious complications.
● Psychological factors. Mental health conditions, high-stress levels, and psychological dependence can influence your detox experience and subsequent recovery process.
● Support and treatment. Having access to social support, medications, and therapeutic interventions can shorten the duration of detox and make the withdrawal process much more manageable.
● Previous detox experiences. Your body might react differently if you have previously attempted an alcohol detox.
Symptoms of an Alcohol Detox
The symptoms of an alcohol detox are due to acute withdrawal and range from mild and discomforting to more severe and even potentially life-threatening complications.
Minor symptoms may include:
● Anxiety
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Sweating
● Insomnia
● Headaches
● Abnormally fast heartbeat
● Palpitations
More severe alcohol detox withdrawal symptoms are:
● Tremors
● Seizures
● Hallucinations
● Disorientation
● Delirium tremens (a rare, life-threatening condition)
Everybody experiences the detox period differently. Due to the risk of developing potentially severe withdrawal symptoms, a detox should be performed under the supervision of a medical professional. This is especially important for individuals at risk of developing more severe complications.
Alcohol Detox Timeline
Let’s explore how long a detox is, a standard guideline for the alcohol withdrawal timeline according to the American Addiction Centers.
● 6-12 Hours: Early withdrawal symptoms tend to begin to appear about eight hours following the last drink. These may include anxiety, nausea, vomiting, a fast heart rate, increased irritability, and craving for another drink.
● Day 1: By the end of day one, these symptoms tend to have increased, and at this point, alcohol and drug cravings may become unbearable.
● Day 2-3: The initial symptoms of acute withdrawal tend to peak by day 2-3 as the alcohol leaves your system. This may lead to more severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, like hallucinations and even anxiety attacks. Also, the risk of delirium tremens tends to peak by the third day.
● Day 4-7: Symptoms persist but may begin to wane at this point as the body adjusts to the absence of alcohol.
● Week 2: By the 2nd week, most physical withdrawal symptoms begin to start to taper off, leaving behind psychological symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction and withdrawal, such as cravings, anxiety, and depression.
● After week 2: most of the symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal occur and disappear within two weeks of the last drink. However, in some individuals, they persist longer than two weeks, leading to post-acute withdrawal syndrome.
Risk Factors for Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
● Heavy alcohol consumption.
● Prolonged history of alcohol use disorder.
● Older individuals.
● History of delirium tremens or alcohol withdrawal seizures.
● Underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease.
● Dehydration.
● Electrolyte disturbances.
● Brain lesions.
How Is an Alcohol Detox Performed?
A professional alcohol detox program involves a combination of medications, counselling, close clinical observation, and follow-up services like therapy and rehabilitation. The program can be offered on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Inpatient services are carried out within a medical facility, where the patient is monitored continuously and offered 24-hour care. This is typically done for more complicated cases or people who are at a higher risk of developing more serious complications.
On the other hand, outpatient services are carried out from home but involve regular medical appointments. These services are typically cheaper and best suited for individuals with mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms.
Medications
Several medications are commonly used during the detox process to reduce the symptoms of acute cocaine withdrawal and prevent relapse.
● Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines are a class of medication that has a calming effect on the central nervous system and can be used to treat some of the earlier symptoms of acute withdrawal, like anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and palpitations. These medications have several side effects, including severe addiction. For this reason, they should be taken under medical supervision, whether on an outpatient or inpatient basis.
● Naltrexone: Naltrexone is a medication used to reduce alcohol cravings during the detox period. It is usually given after the second week due to its potential to cause withdrawal symptoms if given earlier. Naltrexone is also used to promote long-term abstinence by blocking the pleasurable effects derived from consuming alcohol.
● Acamprosate: Acamprosate is another helpful medication used during the detox process to reduce alcohol cravings. It helps normalize certain brain functions that were disrupted by prolonged alcohol or drug abuse before.
● Disulfiram: Taking disulfiram creates an intense negative experience if alcohol is consumed. This includes symptoms like flushing, nausea, vomiting, headaches and weakness. This may not directly reduce your cravings for alcohol, but it deters further alcohol consumption.
● Other medications that may be offered include B vitamins, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, beta-blockers, alpha-adrenergic agonists, and fluids.
Therapy
Therapy is an essential part of the detox process. There are various forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy, family therapy, marriage therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), group therapy programs like 12-step programs, and so on. These may be initiated during or shortly after the initial detox process and promote long-term abstinence by identifying the cognitive distortions underlying alcohol and drug addiction and teaching different coping strategies for dealing with mental symptoms of an alcohol use disorder.
Counselling and patient education
Alcohol detox programs also act as a link to long-term recovery services like counselling, patient education, and follow-up. Being well-informed about the likely symptoms, possible duration, and treatment options makes it psychologically more straightforward to deal with the process of detoxification, provides help dealing with cravings, and reduces the risk of relapse.
How Do You Know If You Need an Alcohol Detox?
This first step in recovery is identifying if you have an alcohol use disorder. Diagnosing problematic drinking or an AUD should be done by a qualified healthcare provider. This typically involves using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. This guideline also helps determine the severity of the alcohol use disorder.
The criteria include:
● Consuming larger amounts of alcohol than intended or consuming alcohol over a longer period than initially intended.
● Having persistent cravings for drugs or alcohol.
● Making repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down on or control your drug and alcohol use.
● Spending a significant amount of time on obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of drug or alcohol use.
● Your alcohol use negatively affects your performance at work, school, home, or social obligations.
● Avoiding important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use.
● Using alcohol in dangerous situations or alcohol use
● Continuing to use alcohol despite persistent or recurrent serious physical and psychological problems caused or worsened by alcohol abuse.
● Continuing to use alcohol despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or worsened by alcohol.
● Requiring increased amounts of alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication or desired effect (tolerance).
● Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drinking stops, which may lead to substance abuse to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Healthcare professionals diagnose an AUD if an individual meets two or more of these 11 diagnostic criteria within 12 months.
These criteria can also be used to determine the severity of an alcohol use disorder: mild means meeting 2-3 criteria; moderate signifies 4-5 criteria; and most severe symptoms of AUDs are when you have six or more symptoms.
Why Choose a Monitored Detox Program?
Choosing a monitored alcohol detox program (whether inpatient or outpatient) has several advantages.
● Safety. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, and there is a risk of developing severe symptoms like seizures or delirium tremens. In a monitored program, medical professionals can intervene if such complications arise.
● Medical support. A monitored program offers trained staff who can provide medications and interventions to reduce the severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms.
● Customized detox center services. Professional detox programs offer patient-tailored addiction treatment that addresses your specific challenges and any underlying health issues or complications.
● Reduced risk of relapse. The risk of relapse during and after a detox is high. A monitored program will provide the necessary support to manage cravings effectively.
● Transition to treatment. A detox program is only the first step in recovery and often serves as a bridge to further treatment or rehabilitation. Professionals can help you plan your next steps for ongoing recovery.
Seek Help at PCP
Alcohol detox is the first step towards recovery from alcohol addiction. The process may be associated with withdrawal syndrome and, therefore, be carried out under the supervision of trained medical professionals to decrease the duration and severity of these effects, reduce the risk of relapse, and act as a link to aftercare services.
Understand that the alcohol detox timeline differs between individuals. However, it is important to understand that most severe withdrawal symptoms are temporary, and the process of a detox leaves you feeling happier, healthier and more wholesome in the long run.
If you are looking for help, reach out to us on our contact page
Authors
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Perry is the founder of Rehab Today by PCP and opened the first treatment centre at Luton in 2004. Perry’s background apart from his own personal struggle with addiction over 20 years ago is in the recruitment industry where he started his career and became Finance Director of a UK PLC and in the late 90’s was part of a new start up and became the leading recruitment consultancy in Intellectual Property across Europe. Perry is passionate about recovery from addiction and liaises with family members to coordinate admissions, often sharing his own experience to help people when they first admit into treatment. Most certainly the driving force behind the success of Rehab Today by PCP which now boasts 60 primary and 68 move on beds in all locations. Perry is a keen fitness fanatic and Arsenal fan!
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Dr Otulana is PCP’s longest-serving doctor. He is an experienced Physician with Specialist Interest in Substance Misuse Management and he has a wide range of experience in the assessment and management (including detoxification) of clients with various drug and substance addiction problems. Dr Otulana started practising as a doctor in 2000 and with over 10 years as an Addiction Physician. He is an Advanced Addiction Practitioner Member of Addiction Professionals and also holds the Certificate in Clinical Psychopharmacology (Part 1) of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. He is additionally a strong healthcare services professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School.