How Long does it Take to Detox from Alcohol?

Alcohol is a substance that can cause different effects to the body. Alcohol is described as a clear drink that is usually made from corn, rye, grain, barley of any beverage that contains ethyl. When a person consumes alcohol, approximately 20% of it is absorbed by the stomach while the remaining content is absorbed by the small intestine. There are actually many factors that can alter the rate of absorption for alcohol. These factors include the concentration of the drink, the type of drink and as well as the fullness of the stomach. However, once the alcohol is already absorbed by the tissues, it can already be present in the bloodstream which can affect the functioning of our mind and body. The concentration of alcohol in the blood could already rise after only 20 minutes of having a drink. Alcohol is usually eliminated from the system through the liver, the kidneys and as well as the lungs. However, regular consumption of alcohol could already cause difficulty in eliminating this substance from our body. This is the reason why detoxification is already required so as to effectively clear the system from any alcohol residue. But how long does it take to detox alcohol?

Understanding Alcohol Detoxification

Alcohol detoxification or alcohol detox is a process that usually takes 6 weeks to complete. During alcohol detoxification, the alcoholic person will usually experience the most severe withdrawal symptoms during the first three weeks of the process. The following weeks can produce milder reaction; however, it can still exhibit residual symptoms of anxiety and as well as insomnia. Detoxification can also be done at treatment centers or even at home. This process is considered to be the first step towards recovery from alcoholism. Nevertheless, this process is always required to be under the supervision of a doctor or a physician.

The process of detoxification is recognized as a treatment for the physical dependence of the body to alcohol. Detoxification enables to flush out the alcohol from the body in order to allow the alcoholic to start the recovery treatment. During the first three weeks of the process, the doctors will closely monitor the patients going through detox. This is due to the fact that intense or severe withdrawal symptoms can be observed during this early period of the process. The symptoms are usually caused by the depression of the nervous system caused by alcohol abuse. This causes the alcoholic to experience firing of the synapses once the intake of alcohol is stopped. Some of the common symptoms during this period include severe seizures, anxiety, hallucinations, tremors, and even heart failure. This is the reason why the initial stage of the detoxification process is always considered to be critical since it can cause dangerous side effects to the health of the patient and can even lead to death. However, doctors usually include other medications in order to combat the side effects of the withdrawal from alcohol. Some of these medications include anti-anxiety seizure drugs. Usually the physical withdrawal symptoms or effects of the alcohol detoxification can take as short as a few hours to as long as a few days in order to resolve themselves.

After the first three weeks, the serious side effects of the alcohol detoxification usually subside. This usually occurs during the third or fourth week. During this time, the body is already considered to be sufficiently flushed out of alcohol. This causes symptoms to become milder. However, some patients can still experience insomnia and anxiety. In fact these symptoms can be expected to last for months to even a year.

Best Place for Detoxification

Just like what is mentioned earlier, detoxification process can be done either in detoxification centers or at home. However, it is always recommended that inpatient detox is provided in order to monitor the condition of the alcoholic properly. In case home care is preferred, it is required that regular checkups with the doctor or an addiction expert are done. This way, the health condition of the patient is always under the supervision of a health professional.

Once the six weeks of alcohol detoxification is done, clients are usually enrolled in programs that can help them learn steps in order to deal with their mental and emotional dependence from alcohol. Some usually required the aid of a therapist, which is actually very helpful. Clients may also be encouraged to attend group meetings or discussions with the Alcoholics Anonymous. Clients can stay there in order to complete the rehabilitation program. The length of these programs usually varies; however, they usually last for about three to six months.

These are some of the important facts pertaining to the duration it takes for alcohol detoxification to take place as well as the expected processes the alcoholic client is expected to go through. As we can see, alcohol can be a very enticing substance; however, this should always be consumed in moderation in order to prevent ourselves from reaching this level of addiction.

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