Alcohol Withdrawal: What’s safe and what’s dangerous?

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen when someone has been drinking for a sustained period stops or reduces, very suddenly, the amount they are drinking.

Withdrawal from alcohol can be fatal: There is no way of getting away from facts. At the very least, it is uncomfortable and anxiety inducing.

You can drink as much water as you want, go for a run, a sauna or a massage. None of these things will stop you from withdrawing. It has nothing to do with willpower, but everything to do with science.

Why do People Experience Withdrawal?

Alcohol is a mind altering drug.

When you drink, alcohol is received onto receptors in the brain, just as painkillers are and caffeine.

Alcohol is a depressant and will relieve stress and anxiety, as well as make you feel happy and euphoric.

If you drink, consistently, over a period of time, your brain becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol. The brain actually changes the way it works due to the alcohol.

When you stop (or reduce too much too quickly) the brain simply can not cope with this change.

As a result, incorrect chemical messages are sent around the body. This is what causes the symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms.

If you go on a binge once a week and wake up the next day with a hangover, you are extremely unlikely to have this problem (though your liver is still going to suffer!). One or two glasses of wine in the evening, likewise, isn’t problematic. When you drink consistently throughout your waking hours, then you are going to have a problem.

It is not, necessarily, the amount you drink, but over what period of your waking hours that you consume alcohol.

What Are Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are both physical and psychological.

They will start within a few hours of your last drink. Indeed, they can start within 4-6 hours in severe cases.

While not everyone will experience the same symptoms, below is a list of what you can expect. The last five will follow after a couple of days if medical treatment is not sought:

• Tremor of the hands (commonly known as “the shakes”)
• Profuse sweating
• Heart rate increase (fast pulse over 100 beats a minute)
• Severe nausea
• Dry wretching
• Headaches
• Poor appetite
• Rapid onset anxiety
• Deterioration of mood
• Uncontrolled irritability
• Chronic restlessness
• Insomnia
• Severe disorientation
• Extremely high blood pressure
• Delirium
• Seizures
• Coma
• Death

How Are Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Treated?

By a medical professional!

Never, ever, try and treat yourself at home if you experience alcohol withdrawal. It is an acute medical emergency. Without prompt medical intervention it will only deteriorate.

You need prescription medication, administered under supervision, as well as monitoring for a period of days. Usually a week or more.

While it might sound counter intuitive, you need to drink: As soon as possible.

Can I go to hospital?

If you go to hospital, because of NHS commissioning protocols, Accident and Emergency will not treat you as they are not paid to do so..

While the NHS has a duty of care, it is only what is reasonable in the circumstances. If you are admitted to A+E it will only be until you are safe to leave. They are not going to give you a detox . At the very most they will give you some medication to stabilise you, advise you on how much to drink, and send you off with some leaflets.

What about my GP?

Your GP can’t prescribe you detox medication due to NHS commissioning protocols.

Even if they could, you need expert medical supervision in a rehab centre.

Alcohol detox is not just about taking pills. A detox is a medical procedure and can only ever be attempted at home in very limited circumstances and must involve medical professionals.

Home Alcohol Detox

This is possible, in limited circumstances, depending on a number of factors.

while, clinically, it may be possible, to be treated at home, without the therapy and relapse prevention work that is undertaken in rehab, the vast majority of those who undertake treatment at home relapse: fast.

Often, people who have previously been in rehab and relapse think they can “do it themselves” at home with detox medication. This simply isn’t true.

Relapse isn’t failure: It happens just as it does to people with diabetes and asthma.

Our clinicians can arrange home treatment for those who are suitable.

Speak to an Experienced Addictions Clinician For Free Advice

We are experienced addictions clinicians who have treated, among us, thousands of people caught up in alcohol addiction.

Our advice is free, confidential and impartial.

It matters not to us where you get treatment, but that you get the right help.

We can advise you as to what you need and what you don’t need.

There are centres, across the UK and the costs can be significantly reduced if you are prepared to travel a little.

Yoga with miniature goats, gong baths and shakra realignment are all very nice but you don’t need them, and the cost is built in!

Our service is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. We are unable to discuss your enquiry with anyone else. However, we will be happy to make a referral for you, to a treatment centre, without charge.

We only signpost to centres registered with the appropriate regulatory body such as the Care Quality Commission for services in England.

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