Alcohol Detox Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
An individual who has been drinking heavily can begin to experience alcohol detox symptoms as early as the morning after. The individual’s body immediately responds to going “cold turkey” with mild symptoms such as, the shakes, the sweats, headache, rapid heartbeat, and nausea, and they will possibly begin to bargain with the caregiver for a drink. It is recommended that before beginning alcohol detox treatments, the individual needs to consult a physician, who will do a history and physical, along with blood work to help them determine the level of care the individual will need.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can go from bad to worse quickly, as the next stage of withdrawal can begin within 8 hours, this stage is more serious and symptoms can include; hallucinations, vomiting, seizures, elevated blood pressure, and heart rate. During this stage of withdrawal the individual must be under a Physicians care, and will probably need treatment in an inpatient facility.
The Physician can treat the more serious alcohol detox symptoms with Librium, Valium, and Clonazepam; each of these drugs are prescription only, and they can be admin in decreasing doses as the individual’s symptoms decrease.
The most severe alcohol detox symptoms occur with the chronic alcoholic, during this phase of withdrawal the individual will go into Delirium Tremors. It is very important that the individual be under a Physicians care in an inpatient facility. This stage may begin within 2-5 days after your detox from alcohol is begun, the symptoms of this stage include; confusion, hallucinations, disorientation, grand mal seizures, severely elevated blood pressure, irregular heart rate, and severe dehydration; all of which could lead to death, if not treated properly. The Physician will closely monitor the individual in a Critical Care Unit, and treat the medical symptoms as needed. Anticonvulsants, antihypertensive, anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium, and Clonazepam, intravenous fluids with the necessary multi-vitamins injected into the bag are all part of the treatment regimen.
Alcohol detox symptoms vary depending upon the level of addiction; amount, frequency and duration, so consult a Physician, and be honest about the individuals illness. Alcohol addiction is an illness that affects the entire family, so long term counseling is recommended, and remember it is a lifetime illness, therefore it is recommended that the individual avoid alcohol for the rest of their life, there is no such thing as social drinking for an alcoholic so situations that may lead to drinking.