Alcohol Withdrawal: How Long Does The Houston Detox Process Last?
Withdrawal symptoms are part of the process of freeing yourself from the chains of alcoholism, and they may happen even if you are not an alcoholic. Such is the case for people that do not know that they are consuming too much alcohol or are unwilling to admit they have a drinking problem. Conversely, you need not be undergoing treatment for you to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxing From Alcohol
You can start the detoxing process a few hours after your last drinking session. The detox will have some withdrawal symptoms with the most severe of such cases being seen in heavier drinkers. The onset of the symptoms for heavier drinkers starts when they stop drinking or go for a while without a drink.
What Happens During Alcohol Detox?
The effects of withdrawal can be potentially life-threatening, especially for heavy drinkers. As such, the detox process should be handled with care to help undo the chemical changes inside the body that make it highly dependent on alcohol.
When the body does not have alcohol in its system, the blood levels, brain neurotransmitters, and gram go into shock.
When you consume alcohol, it triggers a chemical reaction that suppresses the brain’s neurotransmitters. When the alcohol levels in the mind and body drop, then create room for the glutamate system to kickstart rapidly, and this has an adverse effect on the body and brain functions.
Some of the most notable symptoms that occur during the alcohol detox process include:
- Sweating
- Dangerous dehydration
- Depression
- Nausea
- Delirium Tremens (aka DTs)
- Vomiting
- Alcoholic tremors
- Seizures
- Extreme Fatigue
- Irritability
- Rapid heart rate
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
The withdrawal symptoms are the opposite of the effects that alcohol has on the mind and body.
How Long Does Alcohol Detox Take?
Those undergoing treatment and experiencing the effects of withdrawal often ask how long the withdrawal phase lasts. The detox period is different for every alcohol addict. The withdrawal signs pop up eight hours after the last drink; however, it can also start a few days later. The peak of the symptoms can happen a day or two after and may go on for some weeks. The acute stages of the process will be the worst experience during the withdrawal phase.
Factors That May Influence The Alcohol Detox Timeline
Exactly how long the detox period lasts is hard to determine. Several things will be in play that influences the number of days the detox process will continue; these are:
- The amount of alcohol consumed
- How often the person drinks
- How long the person has been drinking
- Nutritional considerations
- The age and weight of the person
- If the alcohol is combined with other substances
- Pre-existing health issues such as depression and eating disorders
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