Alcohol Detox Effects

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When an alcoholic or an alcohol dependent individual abruptly stops drinking alcohol, he or she typically experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Some people call these symptoms "alcohol detox effects" because the treatment that is needed to rid the body of alcohol and manage and control these symptoms is called "alcohol detoxification."  Along with managing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms, alcohol detox is one of the key aspects in the total alcohol treatment process.

The Brain, Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms, and Tolerance

When an individual regularly ingests alcohol, his or her brain progressively acclimates to the alcohol so that "normal" functioning is possible.

This helps to explain how physical tolerance develops and also why increasingly more amounts of alcohol are required to feel the same "alcohol high" or "buzz" with regular use.

When an individual who has exhibited a pattern of heavy and continuous consumption suddenly quits drinking alcohol, however, he or she typically encounters alcohol withdrawal symptoms which can take days or weeks before the body returns to "normal." 

Even though these symptoms are, by definition, called "alcohol withdrawal symptoms," some people also call them "alcohol detox effects."

Essentially, then, alcohol detox effects are responses by the body and by the brain to the elimination of the alcohol to which they had become accustomed.

Depending on the level of addiction that an individual has reached, these symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe and include both psychological as well as behavioral aspects.

Mild to Moderate Emotional and Physical Alcohol Detox Effects

The following is a list of mild to moderate physical and psychological alcohol detox effects that typically occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink has been consumed:

• Easily excited, irritability
• Clammy skin
• Rapid emotional changes
• Looking pale, without color
• Insomnia, sleeping difficulties
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Nausea
• Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
• Rapid heart rate
• Headaches (especially those that pulsate)
• Feeling nervous or jumpy
• Eyes or pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
• Anxiety
• Sweating (especially on the face or the palms of the hands)
• Fatigue
• Tremor of the hands
• Nightmares
• Vomiting
• Abnormal movements
• Depression
• Loss of appetite

Severe Psychological and Physical Alcohol Detox Effects

The following is a list of severe psychological and behavioral alcohol detox effects that usually take place within 48 to 96 hours after the last alcoholic drink has been ingested:

• Extreme anxiety
• Visual hallucinations
• Muscle tremors
• Convulsions
• Severe autonomic nervous system overactivity
• More extreme emotional changes
• Fever
• Delirium tremens (DTs)
• Excessive irritability
• Increased depression
• Black outs
• Increased difficulty thinking clearly
• Seizures  

Alcohol Detoxification

Alcohol detoxification is the process of letting the body rid itself of alcohol while controlling and managing the withdrawal symptoms in a harm-free environment.  Alcohol detox treatment is typically done under the supervision of a medical practitioner and is frequently the first step employed in an alcoholic treatment program.  Due mainly to the relatively long time-frame for the detox process, these programs are typically part of an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation program.

What To Do When Experiencing Alcohol Detox Effects

When suffering from alcohol detox effects, always see your doctor or healthcare provider immediately so that he or she can assess the acuteness of your situation and prescribe the most effective treatment option for your particular circumstance.

Alcohol Detox Effects:  Conclusion

When you are attempting to overcome your "drinking problem," keep the following in mind.  A critical step in the recovery process is acknowledging that drinking has become problematic and having the strength and the desire to quit drinking.

Once the individual reaches this point, the next obstacle to surmount is how to best manage the withdrawal symptoms that assuredly will follow.  The most logical and realistic way to cope with and overcome withdrawal symptoms is to immediately see a doctor or a healthcare practitioner so that he or she can evaluate the severity of the problem and recommend the most effective form of treatment.

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