How Can Medical Detox Help Relieve Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be incredibly difficult to manage alone without pursuing professional care. Depending on the severity of one’s condition, their withdrawal symptoms can sometimes feel very uncomfortable. If left unmanaged, one may feel drawn back into the vicious cycle of addiction in hopes of avoiding challenging withdrawal symptoms. Before seeking traditional addiction treatments, pursuing a medical detox program at Restoration Recovery from the start can help one safely relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Doing so can relieve intense cravings and potentially save their life. Reducing cravings can increase one’s ability to focus on a smoother treatment process and better recovery outcome.

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, AUD is known to negatively affect an individual’s social relationships, employment status, and physical and mental health. The condition is defined as an individual having difficulty discontinuing the consumption of alcoholic beverages despite knowing the severe consequences that follow.

Based on recent studies, AUD is a prevalent disorder. In 2021, approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults aged 18 or older were diagnosed with AUD. Research has also estimated that about 753,000 adolescents also faced challenges with AUD at that time. 

AUD generally surpasses typical alcohol misuse, alcoholism, addiction, or feelings of dependence. This condition is much worse. It is a chronic brain disease that can range from mild to moderate, to severe. One may be extremely vulnerable to an alcohol relapse due to the prolonged changes in their nervous system. 

How Do Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Feel?

Choosing to discontinue drinking alcohol can be a life-changing choice. Although this is true, an individual may start to feel a vast array of uncomfortable symptoms once they stop drinking alcohol. The symptoms may make one feel deeply trapped in the cycle of addiction. It may be helpful for one to learn to recognize their symptoms to best respond to them for relapse prevention. 

According to MedlinePlus, an individual who has been drinking daily for a long period may experience more intense withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly stop. If one has an underlying health condition, they may experience worsened symptoms. An individual may notice the onset of withdrawal symptoms start just eight hours after consuming their last alcoholic beverage although they may be problematic days later. Withdrawal symptoms last approximately 24 hours to up to three days later but sometimes persist for weeks. Common withdrawal symptoms might include: 

• Extreme irritability
• Tremors
• Night terrors
• Brain fog
• Profuse sweating
• Migraines
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sinus tachycardia
• Fever
• Seizures
• Hallucinations

What Is Medical Detox and How Can It Help Relieve Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

Although the withdrawal symptoms are commonly known to cause intense discomfort for some individuals, medical detox may help one overcome their negative symptoms. The detoxification process comes with a variety of interventions directed at managing withdrawal symptoms. A medical detox works to remove the toxins from an individual’s body who is either intoxicated or dependent on harmful substances. Not many individuals know what to expect. The process intends to lessen the physical harm which may have been caused by substance misuse. Detoxification helps one reach stabilization and prepares an individual for substance and mental health abuse treatment. Medical detox is made up of three consecutive steps. These commonly include: 

• Evaluation: Tests are performed to determine what substances are in the individual’s bloodstream, the concentration in the bloodstream is measured, and the presence of any co-occurring physical and mental conditions is examined.
• Stabilization: The medical team provides professional support to help the individual find relief.
• Fostering the individual’s transition into addiction treatment: The team works to provide the patient with information on their treatment program, services, and continuing care options for ongoing support.

Moving Forward With Restoration Recovery to Relieve Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

It is common for one to feel hesitant to surrender to substance abuse treatment, but that is why medical detox is so important. Not every addiction treatment center provides medical detox. A majority of facilities typically require someone to detox before starting treatment. For some, it may seem like a hassle to get medical detox and then later seek addiction treatment elsewhere. 

Fortunately, choosing to move forward with Restoration Recovery’s medical detox program provides those with AUD with medical detox services, addiction treatment, and aftercare services for a more successful recovery outcome. Everyone deserves to heal both physically and emotionally from AUD. Our team understands that severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous to one’s health. 

Withdrawal symptoms are known to lead to fatal outcomes. For example, one may be at an increased risk of having a seizure without proper management. Thus, our staff is on watch for emergency situations to save the lives of those facing serious challenges associated with their condition. An individual’s length of stay in our program strongly depends on certain factors, including: 

• Severity of symptoms
• Polysubstance use
• Co-occurring medical conditions

At Restoration Recovery Center, our alcohol rehab in Sacramento offers a safe, effective approach to alcohol treatment that changes lives. Our team of specialists understands that alcohol use disorder, also commonly referred to as “alcoholism,” is a brain disorder characterized by a problematic pattern of alcohol consumption leading to uncontrollable, compulsive, and hazardous use. Our medical detox provides a secure environment to safely withdraw from uncomfortable symptoms under the supervision of trained nurses and doctors. Each individual has different needs for addiction, mental health, and dual diagnosis treatment. Call Restoration Recovery at (888) 290-0925 to learn more about how our facility can provide the support needed to safely overcome AUD.