Detox Bliss

Many people die of alcoholism but many also die of the mishandling of alcohol withdrawal. This is because some folks are unaware of the severe effects of alcohol detoxification and mistakenly think that it is beneficial to merely cut off drinking in one fell swoop.

The problem is, years of alcohol dependence has already caused a lot of disturbances in the chemical makeup of the alcoholic’s body, and suddenly cutting off drinking results in a lot of physical, mental, and emotional alcohol detox symptoms ranging from mild to severe – depending on the patient’s degree of dependency.

When any alcohol detox symptom is treated under the care of a professional, detoxification may not be too difficult. However, when untrained individuals attempt to deal with the detox process, then the alcohol detox symptoms may be life-threatening. There are many procedures that only well-trained professionals know and because the patient’s life is at risk during detox, only medical professionals should be trusted to handle the process.

Within only 6-12 hours from the patient’s last drink, trembling and seizures can already be experienced. These are brought about by the irritability of the cells which have already been so inured to the substances in alcohol. These seizures are brief and are often of the tonic-clonic type. Doctors treat these with benzodiazepines. As the number of withdrawal episodes increase, so does the frequency of seizures.

Other alcohol detox symptoms include nausea, dizziness and/or headaches, anxiety, diaphoresis or profuse sweating, vomiting, tachycardia or an increased heart rate, and high blood pressure.

The patient will also find it difficult to sleep, and that is why depressants are normally administered during detoxification. These symptoms usually are at their most severe between 10 and 30 hours after the last drink and would start to dissipate by 40 or so hours.

Mild withdrawal symptoms, on the other hand, diminish in about 4 to 5 days, although the patient may experience anxiety and insomnia for several months. This is why early treatment of any alcohol detox symptom with benzodiazepine or other agents is crucial during the first stages of detox.

Apart from benzodiazepines, other medications commonly used are oxazepam (Serax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). Patients with severe alcohol detox symptoms need to be sedated to alleviate the difficulties experienced with tremors and hallucinations and in order for them to easily follow commands when they awaken.

Medical assessment

Before the administration of detox protocols, however, the patient has to be thoroughly assessed by the medical professionals. The vital signs should be closely monitored during treatment, as well as the cardiac rhythms. It is not uncommon for patients to experience a sort of “shakiness” inside their bodies.

It is important to note at this point that apart from the obvious alcohol detox symptoms, the patient is also at risk of other complications, such as liver disease, cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, impaired functions of the kidneys, pneumonia, pancreatitis, and other diseases.

When necessary, the patient should be informed of the proce1dures especially as the alcohol detox symptoms subside. This is crucial in securing the patient’s cooperation to continue treatment even after discharge from the detox program.