If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction — whether you live in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, or another Ohio city – you are far from alone. Here we will go into more detail about the stages of alcohol withdrawal, the symptoms, and your options for detoxing from alcohol.
Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal
If someone drinks heavily and regularly, when they try to stop drinking, they may experience alcohol withdrawal. In some cases, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are uncomfortable but mild. In other cases, however, the symptoms may be quite severe, even deadly.
When someone drinks heavily, their central nervous system and brain is slowed down majorly. A heavy drinker will have a brain functionality that has been changed to adapt to the heavy drinking, and if there is no alcohol, his or her body will go into a sort of shock. The symptoms can vary depending on how long a person has been drinking and how much he or she has been drinking.
It is not advisable to go through alcohol withdrawal alone. It is always a better idea to have medical supervision when undergoing alcohol withdrawal. Without monitoring by medical professionals, withdrawal from alcohol can be extremely dangerous and even fatal in some cases.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline
For many people with alcohol addiction – especially those who drink heavily – symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can occur within as few as six hours following the last drink. Below we have laid out the timeline of symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Early Stage
When someone is in early stage withdrawal from alcohol, tremors are one of the first symptoms that is most often noticed. Agitation is also a common symptom. This stage lasts for up to 24 hours after the last drink, and symptoms are usually mild during this stage. Other symptoms can include:
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Changes in mood
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Clammy skin
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Lack of energy
- Lack of clarity
- Dilated pupils
Second Stage
Some of the most severe symptoms occur during the second stage of alcohol withdrawal. Seizures and hallucinations are common during this time. Typically, the second stage of alcohol withdrawal begins 12 to 24 hours after the last drink, but this can vary. Other symptoms can include:
- High blood pressure
- Muscle rigidity
- Breathing problems
- Jaw clenching
- Loss of control of bladder or bowels
Third Stage
This stage usually occurs on day three of the alcohol withdrawal. This is the stage where dangerous symptoms like delirium tremens can begin. Not everyone goes through this stage, however. Other symptoms can include:
- Grand mal seizures
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Full body tremors
- Anxiety
- Long periods of sleep
- Sensitivity to sound or light
Treatment Options & Detox Facilities in Ohio
Because going through alcohol withdrawal on your own may have severe consequences, it’s important to attend a professional alcohol detox center.
In a detox program, a team of medical professionals are there to monitor patients as they detoxify their bodies which have become dependent upon alcohol. In the process of recovering from alcoholism, detox is the first essential step. Medical professionals will keep patients as comfortable as possible as they go through this process. This may include the treatment of symptoms of alcohol withdrawal like dehydration and it may include administering medications like benzodiazepines.
There may be other medications that are administered such as Naltrexone or Antabuse. Antabuse can create hangover symptoms as soon as someone consumes alcohol, which may prevent them from drinking. Naltrexone can reduce the cravings for and effectiveness of alcohol.
Finding a Detox Facility Near You
Whether you live in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland or any other Ohio city, there are many options for detoxing from alcohol in Ohio. While detox centers are effective, they only treat the physical aspects of addiction.
The Recovery Village Columbus specializes in assisting patients with the detox of alcohol. After detox, patients are able to begin an inpatient treatment program, which is where the real work of treating addiction begins. This can mean treating the psychological, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of alcohol addiction.
Harvard Health Publishing. “Alcohol Withdrawal.” Harvard Medical School. April 2019. Accessed April 12, 2021.
Medlineplus.gov. “Alcohol withdrawal.” National Institutes of Health. January 10, 2019. Accessed April 12, 2021.
Trevisan L. et al. “Complications of Alcohol Withdrawal.” Alcohol Health & Research World, 1998. Accessed April 12, 2021.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.