Alcohol Withdrawal: What You Need to Know

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can vary between people, depending on many factors. Age, physical health and stature, alcohol and drug history, even gender, can have an affect how you, or your loved one experience the detoxification process.

Many people attempt to withdraw from alcohol at home, with varying degrees of success. In some cases, this has proven fatal and detoxification should only be undertaken under professional supervision.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

A study published by JAMA Psychiatry in August 2017 found that one in eight American adults meet  the criteria for a diagnosis of Alcoholism. That figure is equal to 12.7% of the U.S. population and there’s no evidence to suggest that these figures will decrease in the future.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) excessive drinking is defined as binge and/or heavy drinking. They also consider drinking while pregnant and underage drinking as excessive.

The CDC states that binge drinking consists of 4 or more standard drinks on a single occasion for women and 5 or more standard drinks for men. Heavy drinking is 8 or more standard drinks per week for women and 15 or more standard drinks for men.

What is a standard drink? In the U.S. a standard drink is a 12-ounce glass of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

If you think it might be time to address your alcohol consumption or if you have concerns about a loved one’s drinking, there are some obvious, and some not so obvious, signs to look out for.

Here are a few of the more common symptoms:

• Headaches
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Seizures
• Heart palpitations
• Confusion

Although some of the above symptoms are not always extreme, they can turn into more serious symptoms if the proper care is not given, including:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Irritability and mood swings
• Sweating and Fever
• Tremors

In extreme cases, delirium tremens (DT’s) may occur. This cluster of symptoms are not always recognizable as alcohol withdrawal, but medical advice should be sought.

• Sudden and extreme mood changes
• Deep sleep and difficulty wakening
• Fear, paranoia, hallucinations
• Seizures
• Elevated mood/Mania

What Happens to Your Body When You Suffer from Alcohol Withdrawal?

Chronic alcohol use over a long period of time results in physical symptoms as well as chemical changes in the brain. Over time, the brain and body become dependent on the alcohol and the person starts to experience cravings.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main neurotransmitter in the brain that becomes unbalanced by chronic alcohol use.  GABA is a chemical that creates endorphins, which help to relax the body and promotes feelings of wellbeing and happiness.

If alcohol consumption is reduced dramatically or stopped, the central nervous system struggles to cope, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms may appear soon after. The presence of symptoms can start from as little as 6 hours after the last drink or after several days.

What’s Involved in Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment?

Alcohol withdrawal treatment should be part of an integrative detoxification process undertaken with the appropriate emotional and psychological support.

At Revive, our acclaimed team of addiction and detoxification experts provide:

• Psychological and emotional support
• Nutrition therapy
• Medication therapy
• Acupuncture
• Aromatherapy
• Therapeutic Massage
• Family support and guidance
• Continuation planning and ongoing recovery support services

Our high-end residential services offer a private, serene, and comfortable atmosphere as we believe this is the best setting for recovery to occur.

As recovery progresses and alcohol withdrawal symptoms lessen, our chef-prepared meals provide another source of comfort and healing. Our commitment to providing a holistically based service means that we work with specialized supplements when appropriate.

How Long Will It Take to Recover from Alcohol Withdrawal and Detoxification?

The process of detoxification and alcohol withdrawal is individual to each person which is why we work with a maximum of six people at a time.  We treat each person in a specialized manner. This is also why we only use Registered Nurses and Emergency Medical Technicians as support staff.

How to Get Help with Alcohol Withdrawal

At Revive, our staff are available 24/7 to answer inquiries either by phone or email.

In the unlikely event that a licensed expert is not available to speak with you immediately our administrative staff will ensure that someone calls you back within 10 to 15 minutes.

The full scope of leading detox services for those seeking help with all variations of alcohol addiction…call today and create a new launching pad into quality, lifelong sobriety!

Setting the Standards for Alcohol Withdrawal Services

Revive is extremely personal, and when dealing with certain substances like alcohol for instance, it is critically important to ensure you are in the very best of care! Why? Because alcohol withdrawal can have severe ramifications if the patient is not under a suitable level of care. And while Los Angeles has a reputation as being among the more prominent regions worldwide for substance abuse treatment services, this can also mean that lower grade facilities are more easily able to operate below the radar.

The addiction detoxification process from alcohol is one that merits the very best in care. Depending on the patient’s severity of ethyl alcohol dependence, there are a multitude of tools we use that usually garner far superior results than that of most other detox options. Remember, at Revive the goal isn’t merely to detox in comfort and care, the goal is to position the patient in a manner that will most optimally serve them for their ongoing efforts in sobriety.

Revive remains far more than an addiction treatment facility, in fact we we employ a broad array of approaches and consistently strive to reach new heights in recovery services which exceed industry standards. Examples of what we offer here include:

• A nationally acclaimed team of addiction and detox experts and support staff
• Holistically based service (acupuncture, therapeutic massage, aromatherapy, etc.)
• Nutrition therapy by a registered dietitian specializing in addictions & detox
• Nutritious balanced meals that meet the needs of your detoxing body, yet comforting and delicious
• Specialized supplements
• Emotional & psychological support
• Family support & guidance
• Continuation planning and ongoing recovery support services

Equally important is the reality that while most drug rehab style detox centers utilize basic “techs” as their support staff, Revive only uses a medically trained staff. This is of course in addition to our nationally acclaimed team of detox experts.

This is where luxury, comfort and excellence Intersect…
Those of whom experience alcohol detox at Revive are afforded a very special opportunity. We implement a careful balance of love, support, excellence and encouragement. We want you to succeed, and we’ll go to virtually any lengths to ensure so. The fact of the matter is, the alcohol withdrawal process can cause varying degrees of discomfort, even with everything we have to offer here. Our vast complement of amenities, comforts and luxurious surroundings will definitely help in furthering buffering the patient from any possible discomforts.

The alcohol rehab in los angeles program at Revive is, without question, the “Gold Standard” for excellence here in the Los Angeles, CA area, and nationwide for that matter. Our truly customized level of care means that the client’s needs are central to all staff or otherwise. This process will not only create a new paradigm of health and independence, but a literal launching pad and a catalyst for what can be the first steps in the journey to lifelong sobriety! Welcome to Revive…