Quitting alcohol is the first stage toward recovery. However, alcohol detox at home can be dangerous. Both the mind and body go through changes during alcohol addiction. And stopping alcohol use suddenly can send the body into alcohol withdrawal. For safe alcohol detox, choose a medically supervised detox center where the withdrawal effects, both mild and severe, can be addressed. At Baltimore Detox Center, our alcohol detox program allows people the chance to start their recovery as safely and comfortably as possible.
Why Alcohol Detox at Home Can Be Dangerous
Some people think that they can quit alcohol “cold turkey” at home. But, this plan may not work because stopping alcohol use produces side effects. These effects are what happens when the body withdraws from alcohol use and include:
- Tremor
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Fever
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
Many doctors view the above withdrawal effects as mild compared to the life-threatening delirium tremens (DTs) that occur in some people. These DTs may also include fever and hallucinations. Additionally, they can come with confusion and seizures. DTs require medical help to prevent them from leading to heart attacks or strokes, which may be fatal.
Clearly, experiencing these issues at home can be difficult and dangerous. In fact, some people may choose to go back to drinking alcohol to stop these withdrawal effects. However, returning to drinking will not solve the problems caused by the addiction. Therefore, choosing a supervised alcohol detox center, such as Baltimore Detox Center, is a better option to ensure success during the difficult detox period.
Benefits of Medical Detox for Alcohol Abuse
Because a rare side effect of alcohol detox is death, medical supervision may be essential for quitting this substance. Our medically supervised detox center monitors patients’ vital signs and provides them comfort and support. If needed, medical staff can intervene if withdrawal symptoms become severe.
There are several benefits to choosing this form of detoxing from alcohol, including:
- Medical care, if needed
- Family and friends know their loved ones are safe
- Recovery chances increase when an addiction treatment program follows detox
- Patients feel less painful withdrawal effects
- Safety for health and mental wellness
- More comfort during withdrawal
These benefits and the security of knowing the patient is watched for DTs are reasons that detoxing at a center is a better choice than alcohol detox at home.
What Happens During and After Medical Detox for Alcohol
During medically supervised detox from alcohol starts within hours of the last drink. In fact, some people may feel mild withdrawal symptoms as soon as six hours after their last drink. Headaches, shaking, and irritability begin mildly but get worse as time passes. During this time, getting into detox can make a difference in whether the process succeeds or not.
At the end of the first day, the side effects of withdrawal may require medical monitoring. During this time, patients may have seizures, hallucinations, or disorientation. Medical supervision is vital at this point.
From the second through seventh days, the symptoms persist but may come and go and lessen in severity. However, DTs are most likely at this time.
Usually, most people feel less serious side effects after the first week. However, some withdrawal effects can last for several weeks after the initial detox. But these are often minor and easily managed.
After medical detox, the patient should move into alcohol addiction recovery treatment. A treatment program helps the patient get over the mental reasons they used alcohol. Plus, it teaches them skills aside from drinking to handle stress and anxiety. With a recovery treatment program, quitting alcohol addiction for good is possible after detox.
Detox Safely from Alcohol at Baltimore Detox Center
Rather than choosing alcohol detox at home, contact us at Baltimore Detox Center by calling [Direct] or completing our website contact form. While detox is in our name, we also offer recovery options that include extended residential addiction treatment and therapies.
Quitting alcohol should start and end with support from a qualified recovery center that can promote mental and physical wellness. Connect with us at Baltimore Detox Center today to begin on the path away from alcohol addiction.
