To begin your road to recovery, you first have to undergo the detoxification or detox process. Detox is whenever you dramatically reduce the amount of alcohol in your system. Detoxing from alcohol is incredibly difficult, dangerous, and sometimes fatal when attempted without medical supervision.
Although alcohol detox varies from case to case, withdrawal from alcohol typically follows a general timeline. Knowing this timeline can allow you to prepare for the symptoms and know when you need to see a doctor for medical help.
In this article, we are going to look at the withdrawal from alcohol timeline, as well as factors that may change this timeline and treatment options to ensure withdrawal is done safely. Scroll down to learn this and more.
How Long Does Alcohol Detox Take?
Withdrawal from alcohol typically takes between 7 and 10 days to reach completion. How much of the substance is in your system and additional substances in your system will determine how long it takes for symptoms to subside. For most individuals, symptoms will begin subsiding by the 5 to 7 day mark.
Detoxing from Alcohol Timeline
Detoxing from alcohol can generally be separated into three different stages: Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3. Stage 1 is whenever symptoms first develop. Symptoms continue to develop through Stage 2 and reach their peak by Stage 3. Stage 3 symptoms are the most difficult and dangerous to get through. After Stage 3, symptoms will begin subsiding.
- Stage 1: Symptoms begin about 8 hours after the last drink. Symptoms include anxiety, nausea, abdominal pain, and insomnia.
- Stage 2: Symptoms often begin 24 to 72 hours after the last drink. Symptoms include high blood pressure, abnormal heart rate, confusion, and increased body temperature in addition to the symptoms listed above.
- Stage 3: Symptoms normally begin 2 to 4 days after the last drink. Common symptoms include the symptoms listed above, but they can escalate to fever, hallucinations, seizures, and agitation as well. Stage 3 symptoms are the most dangerous.
After you have experienced Stage 3 withdrawal, you will eventually feel symptoms subsiding. Most individuals notice a reduction in their symptoms within five to seven days, but these symptoms can continue up to 10 days after your last drink.
Factors that Impact the Withdrawal from Alcohol Timeline
The timeline above is specific to individuals who are suffering from alcoholism, but different factors can impact this detox process. How much alcohol is in your system or the severity of your addiction may cause the symptoms to be more severe or last longer.
If you have other substances in your system, the timeline will look different as well. The timeline for drug withdrawal is very different from alcohol withdrawal. In fact, individual drugs have varying withdrawal timelines. So, your withdrawal from alcohol timeline will look different if you have additional substances in your system.
Dangers of Detoxing from Alcohol Alone
It is important that you receive medical attention when detoxing from alcohol. Alcohol is one of the most difficult substances to detox from because of how severe and potentially dangerous the symptoms are. In severe cases, alcohol detox can be fatal.
Because of how dangerous detoxing from alcohol can be, it’s important to only undergo alcohol detox with the help of medical professionals. Medical professionals will be able to monitor your vitals to ensure you are safely and efficiently recovering.
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, contact Hillcrest Recovery today. Hillcrest Recovery can help you recover from your alcohol addiction safely to ensure your road to recovery begins on the right foot. Contact Hillcrest Recovery today at 855-242-0939 for more information about our alcohol detoxification services.