Alcohol Detoxification


If a person is taking alcohol for quite a few years, his body gets reliant to the chemistry of alcohol. This is called ‘Alcohol dependence’. Now, if the person does not get alcohol for a day or try to quit the habit, his body prevents him from doing so as the system tries to maintain the blood alcohol level. This is called the ‘Alcohol withdrawal syndrome’. ‘Alcohol detox’ is a procedure that caters the treatment for addiction of alcohol and the entire physiological and psychological support that is an adjunct to the process.

Let us understand a little bit of ‘Alcohol withdrawal’. It happens when and if a person’s homeostasis becomes dependant to alcohol and as soon as the supply of alcohol to the body is broken off. The severity of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome depends upon the person’s habit of consuming alcohol. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pounding heart, severe sweating, tremors in hands and feet, lack of sleep, depression, agitation, mania, auditory and visual hallucinations. There is increased frequency of Grand Mal seizure (Delirium Tremens) seen in refractory cases of alcohol withdrawal. The person may go crazy for want of alcohol. This is why; alcohol withdrawal must be managed with an alcohol detox program. The program will considerably reduce the awful symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol detox program must be carried out where an indoor facility is available as it requires round the clock monitoring of the patient. The objective of a successful alcohol detox program is to help the patient to sail through the alcohol withdrawal symptoms without causing much trouble. This is done using optimum and rational use of medications, physical and psychological support. The use of behavioral therapy is particularly important as this is the pillar of success to accomplish the program successfully. It is seen that after completion of treatment, a person again goes on binge drinking. Good counseling of the patient can overcome this bar also.

Alcohol detox program also caters for the deleterious effects of alcohol abuse. A habitual drinker may suffer from liver diseases, swelling of different body parts, insomnia, poor memory and lack of enthusiasm. In severe cases, minor liver diseases may lead to cancer. A substantial alcohol detox program should address checking these problems also.

Now let us understand in detail about the treatment modalities for alcohol detox. The first line of management is absolute rest and abstinence from alcohol. In case of any medical emergency like ‘Delirium tremens’ or seizure, the patient is managed with benzodiazepines – Diazepam is the ideal drug. It helps to calm down the central nervous system (alcohol increases the inhibitory effect of GABA – Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid over the receptors in the central nervous system. This reduced level of GABA leads to a raised level of Glutamate receptors in some parts of brain that controls our emotions, moods and thriving efforts. During the alcohol detox program, the inhibitory effect of GABA is absent and the person feels exited and agitated. Diazepam helps to neutralize this over-exited state). In any case where benzodiazepines are not effective, the treatment switches over to barbiturates. Patient may need anti-convulsant therapy using haloperidol. Disulfiram is used to give a bitter experience to the patient if he consumes alcohol by any means.

Behavioral therapy is effective after the acute stage of alcohol withdrawal syndrome wanes off. The patient is educated with the deleterious effects of alcohol. This not only is restricted to the physical condition of the patient, but it should include the other social stigmata that is associated with chronic use of alcohol, that the family of the patient suffers due to the offensive behavior, the social boycott that may be intended to him, the amount of money that are spent for buying alcohol could be utilized for betterment of living and so on.

Alcohol detox is the one and only help for a chronic alcoholic. They should be dealt with sympathy.


 


Table Of Contents

Detox Diet
Information and guide on body detoxification and detox diets.

Benefits of body detox

Body Detox Long Term Positive Effects

Side effects of body detox

Full Body Detox

Alcohol Detox Diet
Alcohol detox diet and how it can help alcoholics

 

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The goal of this website is to help anyone who is interested in improving their body and lifestyle by means of body detox. We provide informations and tips to guide you through your body detoxification. Do check out the Recently Added section for the latest tips and informations on body detoxification.

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