Alcohol withdrawal occurs when someone who’s become physically dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking or doesn’t drink for a certain period of time. Alcohol withdrawal can be an uncomfortable and even dangerous process, producing both mental and physical symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening. If you drink every once in a while, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience withdrawals when you stop, but if you have an alcohol use disorder, you’ve probably experienced these detox symptoms before. If you want to quit alcohol but don’t want to struggle with withdrawals, our alcohol detox program in Pennsylvania can help.

What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant, reducing nerve activity in the brain to produce relaxation and a sense of calmness. When people drink heavily for long periods or engage in alcohol abuse, their brain and body eventually become accustomed to being in a persistent state of calm.

While the person is drinking, their brain may struggle to remain awake, working harder than it would if the person never drank. When your alcohol levels suddenly drop after persistent heavy drinking, your brain remains in this keyed-up state, causing withdrawal.

When a person is going through alcohol withdrawal, they may experience symptoms like:

  • Anxiety
  • Shaking
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Insomnia or trouble sleeping
  • Sweating
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Confusion
  • Rapid heart rate
  • High blood pressure
  • Fever
  • Heavy sweating

Mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can begin as soon as 6 hours after the person’s last drink. More serious symptoms like seizures and hallucinations can occur around 12 to 24 hours after the person last drank.

Considering how severe the effects of alcohol withdrawal can be, it’s important to seek out medical assistance for tapering off alcohol safely. With that said, the safest way to detox from alcohol is with the help of a medically monitored alcohol detox program.

Our PA Alcohol Detox

Especially for people who have a drinking problem, attempting an at-home alcohol detox can be dangerous. Keep in mind that the longer a person has been drinking, the more severe their alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be and the more help they’ll need to recover.

Fortunately, our Pennsylvania drug rehab offers alcohol detox treatment to help patients who come to us with severe alcohol use disorders or withdrawal symptoms to recover. Alcohol withdrawal can be highly uncomfortable, painful, and even life-threatening, especially when symptoms like seizures and tremors take hold.

For people who are addicted to alcohol, withdrawal symptoms are also a major discouragement to quit drinking and complete an alcohol treatment program. Oftentimes, the person doesn’t even realize they’re physically dependent on alcohol or experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

To avoid this reaction, they might continue to drink. After a while, this repeated pattern can lead to a legitimate addiction, which can pose additional concerns.

By receiving medically assisted alcohol withdrawal treatment at our Northeast recovery center, those who are addicted to alcohol and require help recovering from withdrawals and cravings, can receive safe and effective treatment at the comfort of our facility. Led by our medical team, our medically monitored detox programs include 24-hour care and medication (as needed) to manage patients’ withdrawals and help them overcome cravings.

Contact Us Today

Treating alcohol withdrawal is only the first step. If you require the help of an alcohol detox program, you should also look into care for an alcohol use disorder.

Our Northeast addictions treatment center offers detox for alcohol withdrawal as well as a rehab program for alcoholism. Additionally, our inpatient drug treatment in Pennsylvania gives patients the opportunity to work with our therapists individually and in group settings to learn how to navigate their sobriety after rehab.

For more information about our addiction treatment services, contact Clearbrook Pennsylvania today.

 

Related Reading:

What Is the Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism?

Social Effects of Alcohol