Understanding the Process of Alcohol Medical Detox
This article overviews the medical detox alcohol process and other relevant information about the detoxification process.
Introduction to Alcohol Addiction and Misuse
Before detailing the medical detox alcohol process and other important information about detoxification, it is important to talk about alcohol addiction. When someone is addicted to alcohol – also known as alcoholism – they live with the most chronic, challenging form of alcohol abuse.
For many who need alcohol medical detox, the ability to function each day is limited because drinking and being intoxicated is a greater priority than daily obligations such as work and family. Without treatment at a medical detox program for alcohol addiction in Los Angeles, many symptoms of alcohol addiction worsen with time.
Is Medical Detox Alcohol Treatment Dangerous?
The journey to overcoming alcohol addiction can be challenging, especially without help and support at a medical detox alcohol program like Essence Healthcare. Quitting alcohol suddenly, or “cold turkey,” can cause various symptoms. In a supported detox environment, trained medical professionals can help you manage the potential discomfort that may accompany detox. Facilities like Essence can help you or a loved one mitigate the risks and discomforts otherwise affiliated with medical detox alcohol treatment.
Outside of the treatment setting, treatment support is not always accessible. The potential side effects of alcohol withdrawal can lead to illness. In some instances, withdrawal symptoms can lead to death. These life-threatening side effects make seeking detox and treatment essential to safely quitting alcohol.1
What are the Risks, Symptoms, and Side Effects of Alcohol Detox?
If you or a loved one are a consistent drinker who suddenly stops drinking without help from a medical detox alcohol withdrawal program, you will likely experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The intensity and severity of detox vary based on several factors. Each person is unique, and recovery looks different for everyone. Therefore, alcohol withdrawal symptoms may range from mild to severe.
Common Symptoms of Alcohol Detox
- Tremors
- Anxiety, irritability, depression, and mood swings
- Nightmares and difficulty sleeping
- Headaches and body aches
- Changes in appetite
- Fever, chills, and sweating
- Tremors and restlessness
Severe Symptoms of Alcohol Detox
Symptoms of alcohol detox can range from mild to severe. Other, more severe symptoms of alcohol detox may include those that lead to potential medical emergencies, such as:
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
- High fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe confusion and disorientation
- Delusions
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
What Is Delirium Tremens?
Symptoms of Delirium Tremens
Symptoms of DTs can lead to fatal medical outcomes. It is impossible to predict who will experience DTs. For this reason, professional medical detox alcohol treatment is an essential first step toward sobriety. In a supported detox program, skilled medical and mental health professionals will watch for key symptoms and intervene if necessary. Symptoms of DTs vary from person to person but often include:
- Delirium
- Rapid heart rate
- Uncontrolled shaking and trembling
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Irregular heart rate
- Cardiac and respiratory arrest
What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Structure and Function of the Brain
What are Recommended Medical Detox Alcohol Treatment Options?
The goal of medical detox alcohol treatment is to provide a safe and supported environment for detox. You can detox in the most comfortable setting at a supervised program. The best medical detox alcohol programs offer comprehensive, holistic care. Each treatment plan addresses the person’s unique and individual needs as they begin their recovery.
At Essence Healthcare, we understand that each person is unique. We will work with you to develop a plan of care that includes treatment and therapy models to meet your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs at each stage of treatment. Our Los Angeles area facility provides several alcohol addiction treatment options, including medically managed detox, subacute detox, and evidence-based therapy models.
Detox
The duration of detox programs generally ranges from three to ten days. The time your body needs to cleanse itself from the remaining effects of alcohol will vary based on several factors. Examples may include factors such as the severity of your addiction, if you have another underlying physical or mental health condition and if you have completed detox previously and experienced a relapse.
Our medical detox alcohol program offers around-the-clock care and support to ensure your safety while you focus on healing from addiction. Subacute detox options provide the same quality care and support without the same level of monitoring.
Inpatient and Outpatient Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Once detox is complete, you will transition into our inpatient or outpatient therapy programs. During therapy, our skilled and compassionate providers will help you learn more about the roots of addiction. Both individual and group therapy sessions provide relapse prevention education.
Holistic, Sustainable Healing at Essence Healthcare
At Essence Healthcare, our medical detox alcohol rehab program offers the highest individualized clinical care. Each of our patients has 24/7 access to members of their treatment team. We understand that the road to healing and recovery can be difficult and are here to support you during treatment and beyond.
Let us help you create and discover a future free from alcohol addiction. Contact us at Essence Healthcare today to learn more about medical detox alcohol programs and how we can help you achieve lasting sobriety.
