It may feel hard to talk honestly to your doctor about your alcohol use. Once they understand your drinking history, they’ll be better able to suggest treatments that could help https://esmero.co.in/find-help-for-substance-abuse-2/ you. Your doctor may decide to order different tests, such as blood work or a heart test. These results can help them learn how alcohol has affected your body and identify any infections, injuries, or other health issues that need treatment. Many involve a combination of group psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. Alcohol withdrawal can range from very mild symptoms to a severe form, known as delirium tremens.
How Much Do I Have To Drink To Experience Withdrawal?
While these symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are generally not life-threatening. Most people will recover after these symptoms clear up, which can take up to 7 days. A neuroscience-backed treatment using naltrexone, proven to help most people reduce their drinking. Nausea and stomach issues were another regular part of my mornings after drinking.
Factors Affecting the Duration of Alcohol Withdrawal
For mild alcohol withdrawal that’s not at risk of worsening, your provider may prescribe carbamazepine or gabapentin to help with symptoms. But treatment alcohol detox varies based on the severity of alcohol withdrawal and the likelihood that it could progress to severe or complicated withdrawal. Some people experience prolonged withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia and mood changes, that can last for weeks or months.
Can I prevent alcohol withdrawal?
I was always exhausted the next day, but I thought it was just due to poor sleep. What I didn’t realize is that alcohol suppresses the production of certain hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate energy. When you stop drinking, your body has to work extra hard to produce these chemicals again, which leaves you feeling drained. Your energy levels drop because your system is recovering from the withdrawal shock.
What Are the Treatment Options During Withdrawal?
However, if a person already has alcohol use disorder, they can help prevent some of the withdrawal symptoms by speaking with a doctor about safe withdrawal. Those with severe symptoms need to remain in the hospital for part or all of the detox process. This is so a doctor can closely monitor their blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate and provide medications to ease the process.
- As the body becomes increasingly distressed without alcohol, symptoms intensify.
- These programs involve working with a team of mental health professionals in a group and individual setting.
- Contact your provider right away or go the emergency room if you think you might be in alcohol withdrawal, especially if you were using alcohol often and recently stopped.
- Consider biofeedback training to develop greater control over your body’s physiological responses during withdrawal.
- Medical detoxification programs provide structured environments for safer withdrawal management, often including continuous monitoring to address potential complications and ensure safety.
The symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the most severe being life-threatening. Behavioral treatment programs are helpful for people who want to quit drinking. These programs involve working with a team of mental health professionals in a group and alcoholism treatment individual setting.
Finding an Alcohol Detox Center and Treatment
Our Find a Provider tool makes it easy to search Cleveland Clinic’s trusted network. If you don’t already have a supportive network, you can make new connections by joining social media communities dedicated to alcohol-free living.
