Detox and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
What is detox? Detox stands for detoxification.
Ok, so what is detoxification? According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, it is a process in which allows the body to get rid of a drug while helping the person manage symptoms of withdrawal.
What are some of the symptoms of withdrawal? It depends on the drug you are referring to.
Today, let’s review symptoms for alcohol withdrawal.
Mild to moderate psychological symptoms include: jumpiness or nervousness, shakiness, anxiety, irritability, easily excitable, rapid emotional changes, depression, fatigue, difficulty thinking clearly, and bad dreams.
Mild to moderate physical symtpoms include: a general, pulsating headache, sweating (especially the palms or the face), nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, rapid heart rate, enlarged pupils, clammy skin, hand tremors, pale or gray skin, involuntary movement of the eyelids.
Severe symptoms include delirium tremens, which is a state of confusion and visual hallucinations, agitation, fever, convulsions, and black outs (forgetting what happened during a drinking episode).
Alcohol withdrawal can range between two extremes, mild and uncomfortable to a serious, life-threatening situation. The symptoms begin within 12 hours of the last drink, peak in 48-72 hours, and can last as long as a week or more. Some symptoms can persist for three to 12 months.
General references:
Medline Plus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus)
National Institute of Drug Abuse (http://www.drugabuse.gov)
Ok, so what is detoxification? According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, it is a process in which allows the body to get rid of a drug while helping the person manage symptoms of withdrawal.
What are some of the symptoms of withdrawal? It depends on the drug you are referring to.
Today, let’s review symptoms for alcohol withdrawal.
Mild to moderate psychological symptoms include: jumpiness or nervousness, shakiness, anxiety, irritability, easily excitable, rapid emotional changes, depression, fatigue, difficulty thinking clearly, and bad dreams.
Mild to moderate physical symtpoms include: a general, pulsating headache, sweating (especially the palms or the face), nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, rapid heart rate, enlarged pupils, clammy skin, hand tremors, pale or gray skin, involuntary movement of the eyelids.
Severe symptoms include delirium tremens, which is a state of confusion and visual hallucinations, agitation, fever, convulsions, and black outs (forgetting what happened during a drinking episode).
Alcohol withdrawal can range between two extremes, mild and uncomfortable to a serious, life-threatening situation. The symptoms begin within 12 hours of the last drink, peak in 48-72 hours, and can last as long as a week or more. Some symptoms can persist for three to 12 months.
General references:
Medline Plus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus)
National Institute of Drug Abuse (http://www.drugabuse.gov)
posted by Max Stager, MA, LPC, NCC @ 11:48 PM
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