- Title: Alcohol Withdrawal
- Authored by Philippa Gold
- Edited by Hugh Soames
- Reviewed by Michael Por
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Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol Withdrawal
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Alcohol Withdrawal
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Alcohol Withdrawal
What is Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs in North America and Worldwide. Addiction is nothing now, but what is new is the super worrying trend of increasing deaths due to Alcohol overdose. In part, this can be said to be due to a number of factors such as:
- Lack of education around Alcohol
- Increase in Pharmaceutical Prescriptions generally
- A failure of Governments worldwide to do enough to stop Alcohol addiction and related deaths
- Societal thinking regarding addicts and Alcohol addiction
- Lack of Harm Reduction methods around Alcohol usage
- Lack of addiction related education in the medical professional
Further reading about Alcohol from around the web
In chemistry, an alcohol is a type of organic compound that carries at least one hydroxyl (−OH) functional group bound to a saturated carbon atom. The term alcohol originally referred to the primary alcohol ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is used as a drug and is the main alcohol present in alcoholic drinks. An important class of alcohols, of which methanol and ethanol are the simplest examples, includes all compounds which conform to the general formula CnH2n+1OH. Simple monoalcohols that are the subject of this article include primary (RCH2OH), secondary (R2CHOH) and tertiary (R3COH) alcohols.
The suffix -ol appears in the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) chemical name of all substances where the hydroxyl group is the functional group with the highest priority. When a higher priority group is present in the compound, the prefix hydroxy- is used in its IUPAC name. The suffix -ol in non-IUPAC names (such as paracetamol or cholesterol) also typically indicates that the substance is an alcohol. However, some compounds that contain hydroxyl functional groups have trivial names which do not include the suffix -ol or the prefix hydroxy-, e.g. the sugars glucose and sucrose.
What Are Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Withdrawal from Alcohol is a serious matter. The effects on the body from Alcohol use is extreme, and because of these effects Alcohol withdrawal can very quickly become an acute medical emergency. Withdrawal from Alcohol can cause a hypertensive crisis or myocardial infraction. In other words, a stroke or heart attack caused by sudden stoppage in taking Alcohol or respiratory distress syndrome whereby your body shuts down from the lungs and respiratory system outwards. Alcohol withdrawal can also lead to serious anxiety and mental health related issues.
Never in any circumstances underestimate the seriousness of Alcohol withdrawal1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2891684/. If you are withdrawing from Alcohol it is advisable to seek medical attention and in the case of medical emergency from Alcohol withdrawal do not hesitate to head to the nearest Emergency Room.
Alcohol withdrawal will vary for everyone and will be affected by several factors. The length and severity of Alcohol use with be one of the main predictors of withdrawal symptoms and intensity. With Alcohol withdrawal, it’s impossible to accurately predict how an individual will react to withdrawal.
Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline
Full Alcohol withdrawal often takes seven to fourteen days but sometimes longer, and the Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are categorized according to their severity.
There are no minor symptoms of Alcohol withdrawal. The first symptoms to exhibit themselves, usually 3-12 hours after Alcohol withdrawal starts proper are headaches, tremors, sweating, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and total confusion with anxiety or depression.
These are followed relatively quickly by the next stage in Alcohol withdrawal timeline by:
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Tremors
- Anxiety
- Digestive discomfort
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Panic attacks
- Muscle pain
- Psychosis
- Delirium tremens
- Relapse
Worryingly, every time an individual attempts Alcohol withdrawal the severity of symptoms tends to increase.
Alcohol withdrawal has a mortality rate of between three and 19 per cent, depending on seriousness of Alcohol usage.
Withdrawal from Alcohol is a physically demanding process, in which the body will utilize every means possible to remove toxins, while creating psychological challenges because of the changes to the individuals brain chemistry.
Alcohol Detox Process
The severity of Alcohol detox makes it a process that should be approached carefully. Alcohol Detox, especially for those with a heavy or long-lasting Alcohol dependency, produces a range of symptoms and in extreme cases withdrawal can be fatal. However much they may want to end their addiction to Alcohol, it’s vital to seek medical advice and enlist the support of their loved ones.
Alcohol Withdrawal at a Rehab
Detoxing from Alcohol within a treatment facility ensures medical help if it’s needed during the treatment process. Because Alcohol rebound is a significant danger during withdrawal, having medical personnel present 24-hours a day can mean an instant response to any hypertensive or life-threatening crisis that may occur as a professional tapering process lowers the chances of patients experiencing fatal episodes.
Alcohol withdrawal and detox begins with an initial medical exam to determine the patient’s physical condition upon entry into the rehab. This pre-detox Alcohol withdrawal period can last up to 24 hours, as medical personnel determines both the patient’s general medical condition and drug history.
Detoxification of the patient’s body from Alcohol begins after the pre-detox period ends. Medically assisted or tapered withdrawal from Alcohol can take up to a few weeks to complete.
Rapid Detox from Alcohol
Rapid detox from Alcohol is a controversial topic and one that is unlikely to be accepted by everyone for its positive uses. It is a concept that has helped individuals addicted to Alcohol and other drugs kick the habit and gain the help they need to live a healthier lifestyle.
A patient undergoing a rapid detox from Alcohol is put under anesthesia for up to six hours. During this time, an opioid antagonist drug such as naltrexone is used to remove the Alcohol from the patient’s body. Rapid detox can alleviate some of the more distressing symptoms of Alcohol withdrawal.
The Alcohol rapid detox method is used to stop a patient from feeling the devastating effects of Alcohol withdrawal. Sedating the patient and putting them under anaesthesia allows them to “sleep” through the initial heavy Alcohol withdrawal and detox process. The hope is that after the rapid detox process, the patient will wake up with their body completely clean of Alcohol. The remainder of the withdrawal process will be minimal enabling the person to get on with the rehab process. Throughout rapid detox, the patient is monitored to ensure safety.
Does Alcohol Rapid Detox Help Withdrawal Symptoms?
Experts claim that rapid detox from Alcohol is a safe way to cleanse the body. It is also more pleasant as individuals who go through Alcohol withdrawal can experience shakes, sweats, nausea, and other issues for long periods.
Alcohol withdrawal can take weeks to fully complete. However, rapid detox from Alcohol can take only a few days to a week at most. While the process of undergoing anaesthesia is just a few hours, Alcohol detox patients can be kept in a medical clinic for monitoring afterwards. The process enables a patient to get – for many – the most difficult and frightening part of rehab out of the way. Once completed, patients can focus on the mental and emotional side of recovery.
For most Alcohol addicts, the biggest barrier of attending rehab is withdrawal. The pain and distress Alcohol withdrawal can have on a person can drive them back to using. Therefore, limiting or stopping a person’s physical Alcohol withdrawal symptoms allows them to focus on making a full recovery.
By completing a residential rehab program following rapid detox, individuals can fully recover from their Alcohol addiction.
counselors and therapists
Alcohol combinations with other drugs and alcohol
Alcohol and other drugs and alcohol
If you are going through withdrawal of Alcohol and are also taking any of these as well, you can find out more information.