Which goal is most important for alcohol detoxification

Already a member or subscriber? Log in. Interested in AAFP membership? Learn more. Bayard received his medical degree from East Tennessee State University and completed a family practice residency at Bristol Tenn.

Family Practice. Quillen College of Medicine. HILL, M. Address correspondence to Max Bayard, M. The authors indicate that they do not have any conflicts of interest. Sources of funding: none reported. The authors thank Kaethe Ferguson for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript. Alcohol Health Res World. American Psychiatric Association. National Hospital Discharge Survey: annual summary with detailed diagnosis and procedure data.

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Mar 15, Issue. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Two or more of the following, developing within several hours to a few days after criterion A: 1. Increased hand tremor 3. Insomnia 4. Nausea or vomiting 5. Alcohol withdrawal may take a number of forms. Depression Nightmares Excessive sweating Vomiting and nausea. Lost appetite Stomach cramps Headaches. Why Is Detox Necessary?

Other important services provided by alcohol detox in early recovery include: Stabilization. Many who enter an alcohol detox facility are in crisis both physically and mentally. Before evaluation, it is important to ensure each person is feeling well enough to begin treatment.

Medical care to prevent or treat complications. Treatment of withdrawal symptoms is a part of standard medical care during alcohol detox programs, but care for underlying medical conditions is also important. Untreated, co-occurring issues — often previously undiagnosed and undefined — can cause significant complications. Your physician will supply medical care throughout your alcohol detox that can prevent or treat associated complications.

Psychotherapeutic treatment. While the immediate goal of alcohol detox is physical stabilization and care, supportive counseling therapy can help prevent relapse and ease the path to wellness. Holistic Treatment Options Available to Augment Alcohol Detoxification Care Detox discomfort can be lessened with the help of prescription medications, but not everyone opts for traditional drugs and medications during alcohol detox; some prefer instead to rely on sound nutrition and holistic treatments, including massage, yoga, and other therapeutic supports.

Traditional Medications Your Consulting Physician May Prescribe During Your Alcohol Withdrawal Though it is not standard in every case, it is highly possible that your treatment team and consulting physicians will identify you as a candidate for one or more medications designed to ease or eradicate your experience of certain withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol addiction during detox.

The most common include: Antabuse— Also known as disulfiram, Antabuse is one of the first medications approved to help patients avoid relapse because it causes vomiting and other negative physical reactions when combined with alcohol. Vivitrol— Also known as naltrexone, Vivitrol is not prescribed until after you are no longer experiencing withdrawal symptoms and are no longer physically dependent upon alcohol. Campral— Also known as acamprosate, Campral addresses the chemical imbalance in the brain caused by chronic drinking and can help patients to make more efficient progress in therapy and more effectively address psychological issues that may be keeping them in a life of addiction.

More Info on Alcohol Detox Detox is only the first step in a comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment program and should not be considered the final stop in treatment. Alcohol detoxification detox is defined as the natural process that occurs in the body as it attempts to rid the system of waste products and toxins from excessive, long-term alcohol consumption. Alcohol detox in a treatment setting is usually accompanied by medication, medical observation, and counseling. Detoxification is a period of medical treatment, usually including counseling, during which a person is helped to overcome physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.

Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to tolerance and biological changes that create a false homeostasis. Disrupting this balance and restoring the user to a healthy state is a process that is as essential as it is delicate. Galloway, NJ. View Center. Nashville, TN. Alcohol detoxification is the preparatory step before a longer treatment program.

Detoxification can be safely performed at both inpatient and outpatient facilities, but round-the-clock medical monitoring is recommended for heavy users. In most cases, the detox process involves 3 steps:.

Make a Call Although medically-assisted detox limits some of the negative side effects the user experiences, some are unavoidable. Different side effects will appear during the 2 phases of alcohol detox.

Phase 1 occurs within hours of an alcoholic ceasing consumption of alcohol and continues for days or weeks. This is generally when the most severe side effects occur, including:.

The second and longer phase of alcohol detox occurs over months as the brain slowly begins to regulate and get back to normal functioning. This is called Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptom and includes symptoms such as:.

Sometimes medications are necessary to do this. Benzodiazepines , including Librium , Valium , and Ativan , are commonly used for alcohol treatment because they reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms and also prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures.

Seizures are among the most common causes of fatality in alcohol withdrawal, so additional anti-convulsant drugs such as Keppra are often used as well. While Benzodiazepines have been proven effective in treating or preventing certain symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, it is imperative that a recovering alcoholic only use medically recommended amounts of the drugs. Benzodiazepines are addictive substances in their own right, and use should be closely monitored.

Learn More. Especially in the cases of long-term alcohol abusers, detoxing cold turkey can be dangerous and even fatal. Although rare, some of the severe side effects of alcohol detox include:.

It is always recommended to seek medical attention for an alcohol detox to mitigate these side effects. Detox is merely the first step of treatment for people trying to overcome their alcohol addiction. Ridding the body of alcohol will not cure alcoholism; it clears the mind and heals the body so that a person suffering from alcohol addiction may pursue full treatment.