Alcohol detox
Alcohol detox is an important step in the management of and recovery from alcoholism. WebMD defines alcohol detox as, “a medically supervised period of alcohol withdrawal.” They further indicate that during this time of alcohol detox, doctors may administer medications to control symptoms of withdrawal and monitor the patient to ensure his or her safety. In addition to medical care during alcohol detox, patients usually also receive education about his or her alcohol problem and treatment.
WebMD also points out that, “medical management of alcohol withdrawal for people who are alcohol dependent is often necessary, because the symptoms of withdrawal can be dangerous.” They cite the following symptoms that can occur during alcohol detox:
- Sweats
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Seizures
Detox may or may not be necessary depending upon a patient’s age, medical status, and history of alcohol intake. It is also important to note that not everyone will experience all of these symptoms when going through alcohol detox. Most often, alcohol detox takes place in a hospital, an outpatient facility, or a specialized alcohol detox clinic. In order to recover from alcoholism, detox is extremely important and can last from a few to many days. Once detox is complete, treatment for alcoholism can begin.