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Alcohol Detoxification

June 5, 2008

Alcoholism can be a bitter pill to swallow. However, treatment is possible and it begins by eliminating the body’s craving for alcohol called detoxification. By staying away from alcohol, the addiction created by the alcohol residuals in the body is cleared. Recovery will start to kick in once all the alcohol leftovers are removed from the body, and only then can therapeutic treatment begin.

Anyone undergoing detoxification should be supported by friends and family, while under the care of trained medical professionals. Since severe detoxification can be very dangerous, patients are monitored inside a clinic, hospital or rehab center.

Take extreme caution with any products that propose to help you to detoxify from alcohol on your own. There are many of these products on the market and almost none of these products have been clinically tested to government standards. You should absolutely make sure you talk to a doctor about any detoxification product before you try it.

The detoxification period can be excruciating for a patient, though that depends on the level of alcohol in the body. Every detoxification program is personalized according to the needs of an individual. However, the general symptoms of withdrawal include physical agitation, increased pulse rate, sweating, insomnia, nausea and anxiety. Cases wherein patients suffer from hallucinations and depression because of withdrawal are rare, and seizures are even rarer. These only happen during extreme cases, especially since medicinal procedures have come a long way. The quality of care these patients receive also factor in when it comes to the degree of their side effects.

Since the symptoms can be very severe, alcohol detoxification should be done under careful supervision from medical professionals. There are many medications available to soften a brutal detoxification process, such as sedatives and anti-convulsants. These help prevent seizure, calm patients down or help them get some sleep.

There are also methods that don’t involve drugs. Instead, this process uses natural supplements and acupuncture to help the patient recover faster. Still, doctors should be around when doing this method, even if it is relatively safe.

The time necessary for a complete alcohol detoxification typically runs anywhere from 3 to 14 days. Support of family and friends over this period will be a critical first step to recovery. Finding a doctor to help you with the detoxification process is as easy as calling your local Alcoholics Anonymous, or local rehabilitation clinic.

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