Alcoholism Treatment Symptoms

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About Alcohol Treatment Symptoms

When a person that has an alcohol addiction decides to stop drinking, the first phase that the body goes through is known as alcohol detox. Detox is the process by which those toxins are removed from the body, and the biological dependency is eradicated. It is the first essential step in the recovery process. Depending on how frequently they drink and how long they have been drinking, they can experience withdrawal symptoms that range from mild and uncomfortable to dangerously life-threatening.

Common Symptoms Of Alcohol Detox Treatment

The following are a list of symptoms that are less not life threatening. These are side effects of detox that are often lessened with the help of non-addictive medications given under the discretion of medical professionals on an individual basis. These withdrawal symptoms are typically seen within 12-36 hours after the last drink.

•  Insomnia
•  Nausea, vomiting, Diarrhea
• Head ache
• Heart racing
• Ringing in the ears
• Muscle soreness
• Dry mouth
• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Depression

Life Threatening Withdrawal Symptoms

There are various side effects that are extremely dangerous. The toxins that are produced from alcoholism make alcohol detox one of the only addictions with fatal withdrawal symptoms. These dangerous symptoms can include delirium tremens, seizures, strokes, and heart attacks.

Delirium Tremens (DT): Delirium tremens can be described as a more extreme form of disorientation. A person experiencing DT will notice difficulty breathing, a rapid heart rate and a high fever. Those that are more likely to have DT usually also suffer from co-occurring mental disabilities, or have a history of medical conditions like seizures and liver dysfunction. DT typically occurs within a week after the last drink.

Seizures : Throughout the duration of an alcohol addiction, the body becomes dependent on the substance and builds up toxins in the nervous system. When a regular drinker discontinues the use of alcohol, the nervous system reacts by entering a state of hyper-activity, which can induce a seizure. There are different levels of seizures but all forms can be dangerous to the well-being of the person experiencing it. Seizures can cause a variety of physical injuries as well brain and cardiovascular damage. Professionals say that seizures typically occur between six and 48 hours after the last drink.

Strokes: Strokes can be an outcome of DT or a seizure. An abnormally high heart rate combined with the lack of oxygen getting to the brain can cause cells in the brain to malfunction; thus inducing a stroke. When someone experiences a stroke, the loss of brain cell function can have different levels of severity. Strokes can cause severe damage to the nervous system and blood clots that result in death.     

The Importance Of Medically Monitored Alcohol Detox

Due to the dangerous nature of alcohol detox, those that wish to quit abusing alcohol are encouraged to do so under the supervision of professional medical care. Medically monitored detox insures that patients will receive an assessment of their addiction, an appropriate diagnosis, and an effective care plan. Alcohol detox facilities that have 24-hour care will also provide patients with the comfort of nursing interventions where they can be given non-addictive medications to cope with withdrawal symptoms.

Professionals say that between alcohol detox and typically treated drug detox, alcohol detox is the most dangerous. That is because the chemical that is built up in the body over the duration of an addiction is one of the only chemicals that can cause death during withdrawal. Due to the potentially fatal outcomes that can occur in alcohol detox, it is important that those seeking recovery from their addiction consult a professional about entering a detox program that provides 24-hour medical supervision.  

 

Call our free addiction helpline to get more advice about alcohol addiction and withdrawal.

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