Free Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Information in Massachusetts 

Alcohol Detox in Massachusetts

If you're an alcoholic, you have a strong desire to drink alcohol. In addition, your body becomes used to lots of alcohol. Therefore, you may start to develop withdrawal symptoms 3-8 hours after your last drink as the effect of the alcohol wears off. So, even if you want to stop drinking, it is often difficult because of the withdrawal symptoms.

 

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Feeling sick, trembling, sweating, craving for alcohol and just feeling awful. Convulsions occur in a small number of cases. As a result, you drink alcohol regularly and depend on it to prevent these symptoms. If you do not have any more alcohol the withdrawal symptoms usually last 5-7 days but a craving for alcohol may persist longer.

 

Delirium tremens (DTs) in alcohol

 

It occurs in about 1 in 20 people who have alcohol withdrawal symptoms about 2-3 days after their last drink.

 

Symptoms Include:

 

Marked tremor (the shakes) and delirium (agitation, confusion and seeing and hearing things that are not there). Some people have convulsions. Complications can develop, such as dehydration and other serious physical problems. It is fatal in some cases.

 

What is detoxification?

 

Detoxification or ‘detox’ involves taking a short course of a medicine which helps to prevent withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol.

 

Medical Detox

 

The safest way to detox is under medical supervision where a doctor will prescribe medications for detoxing from alcohol. A common plan is as follows:

 

A doctor will prescribe a high dose of medication for the first day that you stop drinking alcohol. You then gradually reduce the dose over the next 5-7 days. This usually prevents, or greatly reduces, the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. You must agree not to drink any alcohol when you are going through detox. A breathalyzer may be used to confirm that you are not drinking. Your doctor or practice nurse will usually see you quite often during the time of detox.  Also during detox, support from family, friends or a recovery coach can be of great help.

 

How will I feel going through detox?

 

Some people manage quite easily, whilst others find it more difficult. You can expect to:

 

Feel quite nervous or anxious for a few days.

Have some difficulty with getting off to sleep for a few nights.

Have some mild withdrawal symptoms but they should not be too bad and a lot less than if you were not taking the detox medicine.

 

The medication used for detox does not make you stop drinking. You need determination to stop. The medication simply helps you to feel better whilst your body readjusts to not having alcohol. Even after the period of detox you may still have some craving for alcohol. So you will still need a program in place with coping strategies for when you feel tempted to drink again.