Detox From Alcohol
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When an excessive drinker suddenly stops drinking alcohol, he or she usually suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Detox from alcohol is a treatment approach that focuses on controlling the alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a safe manner so that the body
can get rid of the alcohol that has been consumed.
It is important to note, however, that although detoxification process is important, it is only one step in the alcoholism
treatment process.
Detox From Alcohol and Withdrawal Symptoms
Detoxification from alcohol is a widely available, "mainstream" type of alcoholism treatment that is almost always done under the
supervision of a medical practitioner.
Not only this, but alcohol detoxification is frequently employed as the first
step in an alcoholic treatment program.
Due primarily to the relatively long time-frame required for the alcohol detox process, these programs are usually part of an
inpatient alcohol rehab therapeutic program.
Recent research findings have demonstrated the critical importance of medically treating every individual who is experiencing alcohol
withdrawal.
Having said this, however, it should be pointed out that roughly 95% of the individuals who abruptly quit drinking alcohol suffer from mild to
moderate withdrawal symptoms and can often be treated on an out-patient basis by a healthcare practitioner.
The remaining 5% of the people who experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms, however, suffer from symptoms that are so severe that they need to
be treated in an alcohol rehab facility that specializes in alcohol detoxification or in a hospital.
Detox From Alcohol: Non-Drug Programs
A variety of non-drug techniques exist for treating detoxification from alcohol. In fact, according to the current research
literature, it appears that the safest way to treat mild withdrawal symptoms is without medications. Such non-drug detox from alcohol
programs use extensive social support and screening during the entire withdrawal process. Other non-drug detox from alcohol programs,
moreover, use proper nutrition and vitamin therapy (especially thiamin) in treating mild withdrawal symptoms.
Detox From Alcohol Using Medications
Numerous research scientists openly assert that people who suffer from severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms or chronic alcoholics who cannot
maintain sobriety should receive drug treatment to control their withdrawal symptoms.
In addition, it can be noted that by using medications, alcoholics are less likely to
experience possible brain damage and/or seizures.
According to researchers, the drugs most likely to produce effective results when treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the
benzodiazepines. Examples include the longer-acting benzodiazepines such as Librium and Valium and shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as
Ativan and Serax.
From an historical perspective, moreover, when doctors have used benzodiazepines they have employed a progressive decrease in dosage over the
time-frame of the entire withdrawal process.
Due to the fact that the shorter-acting benzodiazepines do not remain in the person's system for an excessive amount of time and since they
allow for measurable dose reductions, numerous alcoholism researchers have suggested that intermediate to short half-life benzodiazepines should
be used for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
| Alcohol can be dangerous in smaller amounts if it is used in combination with the following drugs: certain
anti-seizure medications such as phenobarbital; sedatives such as barbiturates, tranquilizers, and cannabis; and narcotic pain
medications such as codine, opium, heroin, darvocet, and codine derivatives. |
Once the individual has overcome his or her withdrawal symptoms, conversely, medications such as disulfiram (Antabuse) or naltrexone (ReViaT)
can be used in an effort to help prevent the person from returning to drinking after he or she has experienced a relapse and ingested
alcohol. For example, Antabuse is a drug given to alcoholics that triggers ;negative effects such as vomiting, flushing, dizziness,
and nausea if alcohol is consumed.
Why does Antabuse work so well? Mainly because it is such a strong deterrent. Naltrexone (ReViaT), on the other hand, is employed
in a far different manner in that it effectively targets the brain's reward circuits and reduces the craving the alcoholic has for
alcohol.
| An alcoholic will negatively impact the lives of 4 or 5 other Americans (such as associates, family, and friends)
while under the influence of alcohol. |
Detox From Alcohol: Inpatient versus Outpatient Status
Not surprisingly, researchers have discovered that inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment is longer-lasting and more effective than outpatient
treatment. As a result, the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should
be considered.
| In the second or third stages of alcohol dependency the alcoholic's hands may have trembled slightly on mornings
after getting drunk. In the fourth and final stage of alcohol addiction, however, alcoholics get "the shakes" whenever they
try or are forced to abstain from drinking. |
Detox From Alcohol: Conclusion
Although 95% of the individuals who quit drinking experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, every individual who experiences alcohol
withdrawal should receive professional detox from alcohol treatment.
It follows, then, that the most significant lesson to be learned regarding detoxification from alcohol is this: when experiencing
alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your doctor or your healthcare provider immediately so that he or she can assess the severity of
your withdrawal symptoms and recommend the detox from alcohol treatment that is most appropriate for your particular situation.
| If you would like to listen to an informative and professionally done "talking eBook"
entitled The Truth About Alcohol, please click on this link. |
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| According to recent alcoholism studies, it has been discovered that approximately 53% of adults in the United
States have reported that one or more of their close relatives has a drinking problem. |
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