Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

You have a zest for life … a passion that you instill into everything you do. You find yourself going through a rough patch in your 20-year marriage and need mental relief from the stress that has invaded your thoughts night and day. You go out after work one night with the crew and find that even one small drink takes the edge off. You have a great time and buy a bottle of wine the next day. Drinking wine is all the rage, right? You pour yourself a glass with dinner and find it easier to deal with a partner who is not sure they want to work it out. Instead of being sad, you find that you are buying a bottle of wine every other day to help you cope, which turns into drinking an entire bottle every night. That is it. That is your limit. No more than a bottle. You don’t even consider that you could have a problem, until your daughter asks you to take her to the store one night after you have already had two glasses. You know that you should not be driving; however, you don’t want anyone to know that you are tipsy. When you find yourself doing what you never thought you would, driving after having had alcohol, you realize that it’s time to limit your drinking.

You vow to just drink one glass a night but once you start, it’s hard to stop. Why drink if you cannot feel the buzz, and one glass doesn’t cut it. You then try another tactic, that you will only drink on Fridays and Saturdays; however, you feel very shaky, your heart is racing, and you are extremely irritated throughout the first week. Dr. Google has repeatedly told you that it can be life-threatening to stop drinking without medical assistance, so you feel like it’s time to investigate the possibility that you have alcohol use disorder (AUD) and need withdrawal treatment.

What is the difference between a hangover and alcohol withdrawal?

Most adults have the occasion hangover when the weekend barbecue went a little late and they drank a little too much. Scientists are not exactly sure what causes a hangover and why negative side effects continue long after the alcohol has left the system. They have theorized that it could be a combination of toxic byproducts formed by the body in reaction to the alcohol and dehydration. Some lucky individuals do not experience hangovers at all, but many people have negative affects from a night of overdrinking, which may include:

• Headache and dizziness
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain
• Poor sleep
• Thirst
• Exhaustion
• Body shakes and tremors
• Rapid heart rate
• Irritability
• Sensitive to light and sound

There is no real cure for a hangover even though many people tout a variety of remedies. While a hangover is uncomfortable, it goes away within hours or after a good night’s sleep. Someone who imbibes on a regular basis and has developed AUD may experience a cluster of physical symptoms when they try to stop drinking. The body’s attempt to balance itself without the alcohol to which it has become accustomed can be exceedingly dangerous and even fatal. Many of the symptoms can be eased with medical assistance, but how does someone distinguish between withdrawal and a simple hangover. Withdrawal symptoms may present themselves as being similar to having a hangover but will continue long after the first day and advance in severity over the course of two weeks:

• Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and depression
• Jumpiness
• Tremors and weakness, possibly delirium tremens (DTs) and seizures
• Severe confusion, lack of focus, hallucinations, and even delirium
• Constant fatigue
• Insomnia and nightmares
• Clammy skin
• Headache
• No appetite
• Sweating and fever
• Heart problems, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, and high heart rate

Consistently consuming alcohol suppresses neurotransmitters in the brain and when the body attempts to readjust to the supply being discontinued, the flood of chemicals trying to bring the body back to normal functioning causes panic, anxiety, and paranoia. If there has been a long duration of alcohol abuse, someone trying to recover may experience personality changes and cognitive difficulties long after detox. There have been medications designed that can ease the discomfort of withdrawal, as well as prevent the more serious side effects that can lead to death.

What does an alcohol withdrawal treatment facility offer?

Alcohol withdrawal treatment is a specialized program due to the possible lethality of the process. Approximately 88,000 people die every year due to alcohol-related issues. Finding the happiness that alcohol took away is possible if an addict takes advantage of the treatments offered in an alcohol-specific program make it as comfortable a process as possible. A combination of the following steps helps to ensure the greatest success in achieving sobriety. It is usually done in an inpatient alcohol treatment program; however, outpatient alcohol treatment is also effective in more mild cases. So, what does a good program look like?

• Detoxing from alcohol is the first step in any rehab
• Counseling and group therapies help people develop coping skills to live without the crutch of alcohol
• Aftercare and maintenance with 12-step sobriety programs, such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)

Alcohol detox is especially difficult, and certain drugs have been proven to make it more comfortable and less lethal. They include:

• FDA- approved benzodiazepines
  • Using the sedative effects of benzos on a temporary basis can ease panic, anxiety, and controls seizures. The ones that are best suited to help during alcohol withdrawal include Librium, Tranxene, Valium, and Serax. Benzos are addictive so careful dosage control is important.
• Barbiturates
  • These are used in benzo-resistant cases. They are typically used in acute, emergency room situations.

The following medications are utilized in treating alcohol withdrawal on a more long-term basis:

• Antabuse (Disulfiram)
  • Inhibits the enzyme in the body that metabolizes alcohol and causes extreme side effects if any alcohol is consumed. It is used to discourage drinking.
• Vivitrol, Revia (Naltrexone)
  • Originally used in opioid abuse cases, but it can also reduce the craving to drink and help sustain sobriety.
• Campral (Acamprosate)
  • Helps to balance the neurotransmitters in the brain after being suppressed by alcohol for so long.

The following medications are used to reduce the other symptoms, such as seizures and depression:

• Antipsychotics
  • This is especially used in cases that require dual diagnosis treatment because they have a mental health issue.
• Anticonvulsants
  • Can be used in mild withdrawal, especially for outpatient situations.
• Alpha-2 agonists
  • These are used to reduce high blood pressure, sweating, anxiety, tremors, and irritability
• Baclofen
  • A muscle relaxer that quickly reduces severe symptoms.

Experts agree that alcohol withdrawal should never be done on one’s own if someone has been drinking for a long time and/or consuming an excess amount in each sitting. They can find treatment that will ease the symptoms and ensure that they make it to the next step.

The abuse of alcohol costs an estimated $249 billion annually to society in the United States. This is due to the crime and aggression that leads to legal fees, missed work and loss of jobs, divorce rates, and excess treatment in the healthcare system from alcohol-related conditions and emergencies. That doesn’t even include the emotional and physical impact on children and partners of alcoholics. Obtaining alcohol withdrawal treatment is not only essential to the survival of society as a whole but helps people regain control of their lives and find the happiness that they deserve.