Alcohol Detox

Alcohol Detox Treatment
By Linda Rogers

An alcohol dependent person is subservient to a strong desire of drinking alcohol. Over time, the body of the this person becomes so addicted to the substance that it starts developing withdrawal symptoms some three to eight hours after the last drink and so drinking is hard to resist. Alcohol Detox involves a short course of medication to prevent withdrawal symptoms once the alcoholic stops drinking.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Before you seek professional alcohol detox for yourself or someone else, check for the symptoms like: feelings of sickness, craving for a drink, sweating, trembling, and feeling lifeless (or simply awful). While the other symptoms usually disappear within a week of giving up alcohol, the craving for alcohol persists for longer. About one in twenty people who stop drinking suffer from a more severe effect called delirium tremens. It is marked by shaking and delirium sometimes comes with convulsions. Dehydration and some other serious physical problems may also appear and in fact, they sometimes prove fatal.

Alcohol Detox Medicine

Chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine medicine, is most commonly used drug for detoxifying alcohol. It is also used to relieve anxiety, nervousness and tension observed in patients of anxiety disorders.

Alcohol Detox by a General Practitioner

The usual plan of alcohol detox followed by a primary physician starts with a high dose of the detox medicine on the first day the patient stops drinking. The detox dose is then reduced gradually over the next week. The patient is under the restraint of not taking alcohol despite his/her craving and the doctor may check with a Breathalyzer to confirm it. The patient has to attend regular check ups and family and friends are frequently included in the treatment for the patient's support.

Response to Treatment

Different patients respond differently to alcohol detox; some managing very well; others experiencing symptoms like nervousness or anxiety (lasting a few days), difficulty in sleeping (for a few nights), and mild withdrawal symptoms. Some craving for alcohol lingers even after the detox treatment is over. The patient needs determination and endurance to cope with it.

Relapse after Detoxification

After the detox treatment is successfully completed, some patients may relapse into drinking. In such cases, the patient is put on special medication for some months. These medicines include Acamprosate and Disulfiram. Acamprosate eases the craving for alcohol. Disulfiram causes very disturbing effects if alcohol is taken while using it. So this dread of disturbance keeps the patient from alcohol. In addition, regular counseling and support from the physician, family, friends, and self-help groups aids the process of recovery.

Author Details:
Linda Rogers, copywriter for various websites including, Detox and The A - Z

Article Source: Top Articles

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