- Apr 14
- Recovery
Withdrawing from Alcohol: Everything you Need to Know
**Attempting to detox from alcohol alone is incredibly dangerous and anyone in need of detox should seek professional supervision to safely withdrawal and begin treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE if you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol use.
Withdrawing from alcohol can look different for everyone. Symptoms may vary from person to person, and can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
The symptoms of withdrawal can seem intimidating at first, but support from professionals in a residential withdrawal management facility can help manage symptoms and provide the opportunity to transition into the next step of treatment. Research has found that people will have an increased chance of successful treatment if they undergo alcohol detoxification with the help of a medical professional. Detoxing without medical supervision can lead to serious health consequences.
The timeline of alcohol detox is different for everyone, but the following is an overview of what people usually experience when they go through withdrawal:
6-12 hours
A person experiencing a substance use disorder (SUD) will begin feeling mild symptoms about six hours after their last consumption of alcohol. One of the first symptoms an individual will experience is cravings. During this time, they might also experience:
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
- Low appetite
- Depression
- Headaches
- Nightmares
- Insomnia
- Tremors
After six hours, the individual can also have seizures if they have a long history of heavy alcohol use. Doctors consider seizures to be the most dangerous of acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
12-24 hours
After 12 hours, people will begin to experience moderate withdrawal symptoms. Research has found 2-8% of people experience hallucinations as they go through alcohol withdrawal. These symptoms will typically peak at 18-24 hours and decrease after four or five days for people going through minor withdrawal.
24-48 hours
During this time, people will usually continue to experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. The risk of experiencing a seizure peak at this time and can remain high for several days. Seizures can be mild, but they can also lead to life-threatening conditions.
48-72 hours
After 48 hours, people may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms. Some people may experience alcohol withdrawal delirium, also known as delirium tremens (DTs). This is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that can cause:
- Body tremors
- Agitation or irritability
- Sweating
- Extreme confusion or disorientation
- Rapid mood changes
- Hallucinations
- Fever
- Increased heart rate
- Seizures
An increase in blood pressure can also occur and lead to chest pain. The risk for seizures decreases after 48 hours in most cases, but the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. DT has a high death rate, so it is usually monitored and treated in a hospital’s intensive care unit with supervision, medications and medical care.
72+ hours
People going through alcohol withdrawal will usually experience their most severe symptoms during this time period. DTs may last two to three days, but can continue past eight days and can lead to death if a medical professional does not monitor and manage the symptoms. It is critical to seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.
Factors That Affect the Alcohol Withdrawal Process
The length of the detox process and the severity of symptoms is different for everyone. People can experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms whether they have been drinking for weeks, months or years. However, the length of the detox process largely depends on how long the individual has been drinking alcohol and the frequency of alcohol consumption.
The Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale (PAWSS) is a scale doctors use to determine if patients are at risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. The PAWSS scale accounts for the blood alcohol level of an individual, when the person was last intoxicated, if they have experienced blackouts, and if they have combined alcohol with other substances. Factors that can increase a person’s risk of severe symptoms include:
- Extended length of alcohol use
- Heavy consumption of alcohol
- Genetics, physical characteristics, and overall physical health
How Treatment Helps
Research has found that people will have an increased chance of successful treatment if they undergo alcohol detoxification with the help of a medical professional.
Gateway Foundation’s Residential Withdrawal Management, commonly known as detox, provides a safe, compassionate environment for individuals needing to withdraw from substances. Withdrawal from substances like alcohol or other substances can cause severe symptoms, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Gateway Foundation’s Residential Withdrawal Management provides a medically supervised environment with 24/7 nursing care, medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, and counseling from licensed therapists for individuals to safely withdraw. After withdrawing, patients have the opportunity to transition to a residential program where they can continue treatment. With personalized care and a focus on long-term success throughout the program, we prepare each patient for the next steps toward lasting recovery.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, call 877-505-HOPE.
