If you’ve been drinking alcohol on a regular basis in large amounts, quitting alcohol cold-turkey can be dangerous. In order to safely detox from alcohol, the first step is to stop drinking immediately. The next step is to go to an accredited alcohol treatment facility with qualified staff and state-of-the-art resources. A medically assisted detox is the best option for overcoming alcohol addiction. With this type of program, you’ll have the medical care you need to help you begin the road to a lifetime of sobriety.
What is Medically Assisted Detox?
When you’re addicted to alcohol, the idea of quitting cold turkey can be scary. You may fear withdrawal symptoms like agitation, hallucinations, and seizures. Thankfully, a medically assisted detox can make this process more manageable. Medically assisted detoxification is the process of safely withdrawing from alcohol with the help of healthcare professionals. Medically assisted detox often involves the use of medications such as:
- Disulfiram This alcohol-sensitizing drug will lower the desire to drink. This drug encourages headaches, vomiting, and nausea should you attempt to drink after taking it.
- Acamprosate This drug helps combat intense alcohol cravings as it works to balance certain chemicals in the brain.
- Naltrexone This medication blocks the effects alcohol has on the brain. This is an important step in getting over your withdrawal symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include agitation, insomnia, tremors, and hallucinations, but these are all managed with benzodiazepines to reduce the risk of seizures and other complications.
Detoxing From Alcohol
Detoxing from alcohol starts with the desire to quit. While you’ll experience withdrawal, making the decision to get better is the first step. Many people want to know if they can detox from alcohol at home. Though it’s possible, it’s incredibly dangerous. If you’re interested in detoxing at home, remember that this will increase the risk of relapse. The first step to take in your effort to get sober is to remove all the alcohol from your environment. Making sure your apartment or home is alcohol-free will make it easier to stay sober. The next step is to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms like headaches, seizures, and shakes, will make it a challenge to stay sober. This is especially true if you are fighting a severe alcohol addiction. This is why the best way to detox from alcohol is to do so with professional help. With the help of a professional, you can undergo medically assisted detox at a rehab center.
Finding Sobriety After Alcohol Addiction
Getting sober from alcohol addiction is a big deal and one that should not be taken lightly. If you’re just in the beginning stages of your recovery, detoxing from alcohol can feel like a daunting task. However, detoxing from alcohol is not something that you have to go through alone. With the right help, you’ll be on your way to getting sober in no time. Here are some tips for safely detoxing from alcohol addiction. Once you’ve made the decision to get sober, it’s time to decide on the right treatment options. After undergoing a medically assisted detox, consider the following programs:
- Intensive outpatient treatment – This treatment option is the best method for anyone that cannot live on-site at a rehab facility. In intensive outpatient treatment, you’ll be able to live at a sober living facility or stay in your own home while receiving daily treatment sessions.
- Inpatient treatment – Inpatient treatment is recommended for anyone that has a severe alcohol addiction. In this program, you’ll live in a treatment facility while receiving 24-hour care in the form of counseling, recreational therapy, CBT, and other types of treatment.
- Partial hospitalization – In a partial hospitalization program, you’ll receive intensive mental health treatment as you recover from alcohol addiction. This program is preferable for an individual that may not need 24-hour monitoring but will still benefit from medical care on the road to recovering from alcohol addiction.
If you have experienced alcohol addiction or know someone that has, get help today. Be sure to contact us at 844-639-8371 if you have questions about overcoming alcohol addiction. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day and ready to speak with you.