Alcohol is so commonly accepted in our society that we often forget its implications on the human body. Many times people try to quit alcohol by abruptly putting a stop to it. However, that is not a safe way of eliminating alcohol from the system. In fact, in moderate to severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can get so bad that it can give you hallucinations. Not knowing safe ways to detox from alcohol can even result in death.
While the body metabolizes all substances at the same rate and there is no magic tonic for it, there are some proven ways in which alcohol can be eliminated safely. These ways are research-backed and are effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms.
1. Medical Detox
A medically supervised detox is an efficient and effective way to help eliminate alcohol from your system. This is particularly useful for those who suffer from some level of alcohol use disorder (AUD). What medical detox does is reduce the risk of side effects of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Even if the situation of a patient gets worse, doctors are there to manage it. Patients are advised to undergo medical detox instead of going cold turkey.
Detox is mainly abstinence under the observation of doctors. It may also include administering medications to reduce symptoms of withdrawal. The process of detox usually goes as follows:
Initial consultation and assessment:
Before starting the detoxification process, your provider will assess your condition. This will include getting your medical history, frequency of drinking, overall health, etc. This will allow them to come up with an individualized detox plan.
Medication Management:
The doctors are likely to prescribe medications like benzodiazepines or gabapentin to manage withdrawal symptoms. These medications are only used for a short time.
Monitoring condition:
Through detox, the medical staff will monitor your situation, hydration levels, vital signs, and mental health to ensure that your condition is stable. This may also include administering essential electrolytes, thiamine supplements, and IV fluids.
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2. Medications and Therapy After Detox
Certain prescription medications are prescribed after you have undergone medical detox. These medications help with withdrawal symptoms and abstinence. The medications play an important role in preventing relapse. Commonly Prescribed Medications include:
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an effective medication that helps in curbing cravings and other withdrawal symptoms. While it is not used during detox, it can be prescribed when a person’s body is alcohol-free. It’s often prescribed to individuals with alcohol dependence during and after detox to prevent relapse.
Acamprosate (Campral)
Acamprosate works to help the brain return to its normal functioning. It is intended to recover the brain from the long-term effects of alcohol use.
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Disulfiram works by creating an adverse reaction to alcohol. If you drink alcohol while taking Disulfiram, you will experience unpleasant effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. This can deter individuals from drinking again.
These medications support abstinence once you have left rehab, even though there is no cure for addiction. You can still manage addiction with the help of the mentioned medications.
To further help with psychological withdrawal, therapies are a great way to sustain recovery. These therapies include:
Therapy has even shown improvements in patients who were taking it as monotherapy.
3. Nutritional and IV Therapy
Nutritional therapy, often administered via intravenous route, is a common way to eliminate alcohol and sustain recovery. What chronic alcohol use does is deplete the body of essential minerals and nutrients. Deficiency of certain vitamins like B1 can result in wet-brain syndrome and other issues. To help one recover from this, nutritional and IV therapies can be taken.
How IV Therapy Works
Hydration: Alcohol dehydrates the body, leading to fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. IV fluid therapies will rehydrate the body and help flush out alcohol at a faster rate.
Electrolyte balance: IV fluids contain important electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride. These can help regulate bodily functions and support the nervous system.
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Recap
Eliminating alcohol from your system is a process that requires time and medical support, especially if alcohol dependence is present. Medically supervised detox, the use of medications, and nutritional or IV therapy are three proven methods to safely detox from alcohol. These approaches help manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce the risk of complications, and provide the necessary support for long-term recovery.
Accepting you have a problem with alcohol is the first big step to stopping, and getting recovery.
You probably need alcohol addiction help if:You constantly feel the need to drinkYou get into trouble when drinkingOther people warn you about your drinkingAlcohol is causing you problemsThe best place to start is with the WhyAddicted Team and it is best if you are honest about how much you drink and the issues it is causing.If you are dependent on alcohol, you have probably tried to stop drinking or control your drinking.Here at WhyAddicted, we have a unique revolutionary screening system, which is the perfect place to start your recovery.
Click here for more information for alcohol addiction help.If you have become alcohol dependent and need to stop drinking altogether, quitting alcohol overnight could be dangerous.You must take advice or get support from professionals and get plenty of information about the method and medication that might be required.These are the sorts of withdrawal symptoms that you may need medication for:anxiety when you wake upsweating and tremorsnausea or vomiting in the morninghallucinations or blurred visionseizuresGo for alcohol addiction treatment UK at WhyAddicted.
