Should You Seek Medical Aid for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol detox can be tricky to attempt on your own due to the risk of rapidly worsening withdrawal symptoms.

When you’re addicted to alcohol, the idea of quitting can feel overwhelming – especially when you think about going through withdrawal. One of the first questions that may cross your mind is, “do I need medical detox or can I safely detox on my own/at home?”

Whether you should seek detox treatment when detoxing from alcohol depends on a number of different factors, including how long you’ve been drinking, how often you drink, other co-occurring disorders (such as anxiety or depression), how many times you’ve tried to quit, and others. You should talk to your doctor or a professional addiction treatment provider about a detox plan for you.

Can I Detox at Home?

Do a quick search online and you’ll find thatself-detoxing at home isn’t recommendedunless you are under a doctor’s care and have round-the-clock supervision. Even if you haven’t been drinking for very long, detox symptoms can change quickly and may cause serious medical complications.

Detoxing at home without the assistance of a doctor or medications is often uncomfortable and can be dangerous. However, if you feel thatdetoxing from alcohol at homeis your only choice, it’s critical that you do it safely, have a support system to rely on, and focus on staying healthy.

Alcohol Detox Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal is potentially life-threatening withheavy drinkingalcoholics. Alcohol withdrawal can beginwithin 6 hoursafter your last drink. Symptoms can be most severe between36 and 72 hoursafter you stop drinking, and can continue forup to 10 days. They can range from mild anxiety and shakiness to seizures and delirium tremens (DTs). For those considering starting a detox, it’s important to know beforehandwhat can help with alcohol withdrawal.

The Recovery Village 2020 Alcohol Survey Results

Wesurveyed 2,136 American adultswho either wanted to stop drinking alcohol or had already tried to (successfully or not). Of those surveyed, 1,559 had detoxed before. We asked them about their alcohol use, reasons for drinking, alcohol-related outcomes, health and more.

Respondents’ withdrawal symptoms lasted for an average of 4.83 days. For 95% of respondents, withdrawal symptoms lasted between 2–8 days. This range stayed the same whether they detoxed from home or at a medical facility.

Respondents who had detoxed from alcohol reported experiencing the following withdrawal symptoms:

• 1 in 2 respondents reported irritability (46.8%)
• 1 in 2 reported fatigue (42.3%)
• 1 in 2 reported sweating (44.9%)
• 1 in 2 reported stress or anxiety (48.6%)
• 1 in 3 reported hand tremors (33.5%)
• 1 in 4 reported nausea or vomiting (23.6%)
• 1 in 4 reported mood swings (23.6%)
• 1 in 5 reported rapid heart rate (22.9%)
• 1 in 8 reported hallucinations (13.4%)
• 1 in 10 reported Delirium tremens (DT) (11.4%)
• 1 in 12 reported seizures (8.2%)

Across the board, heavy alcohol users reported withdrawal symptoms more than average. Heavy drinkers more than doubled their risk for hallucinations during detox, being 2.39 times more likely than other alcohol users to experience them. Compared to others during detox, heavy drinkers were:

• 90% more likely to experience Delirium Tremens
• 45% more likely to experience seizures
• 95% more likely to experience rapid heart rate
• 147% more likely to experience hand tremors
• 69% more likely to experience sweating
• 65% more likely to experience nausea or vomiting
• 35% more likely to experience irritability
• 28% more likely to experience fatigue
• 28% more likely to experience stress or anxiety
• 27% more likely to experience mood swings

Why You Should Seek Out Medical Help for Alcohol Detox

Attendingalcohol rehabis always recommended when detoxing from alcohol, but it’s especially beneficial for people with severe addictions or those who haven’t been able to successfully detox on their own in the past. Seeking medical help foralcohol detoxhelps ensure your safety and can be much more comfortable, which can also reduce the temptation to abandon the detox process.

There are two types of medical treatment available: inpatient and outpatient. Each type of program has its own set of pros and cons, and ultimately, it’s your decision as to what program is right for you.

Additional benefits of entering an addiction treatment program include:

• Medical stabilization
• Peer support
• A safe and structured environment
• Relapse prevention
• Therapeutic intervention
• Family support
• Continued, long-term treatment (aftercare).

At the end of the day, only you can decide whether detoxing at home or entering an addiction treatment facility is right for you. However, entering an inpatient or outpatient treatment program is highly recommended and allows you to safely detox from alcohol while giving you the best chance at success in recovery.

If you need help deciding if an inpatient or outpatient program is right for you,reach out to our teamto learn more about our individualized treatment plans and options that could work well for you.