What Is the Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline?
The first stage of the alcohol withdrawal timeline begins after the patient has been without a drink for eight hours. At this point, they may experience insomnia, stomach pain, nausea and insomnia. The second stage begins about 24 to 72 hours after the last drink. In this stage, individuals may experience an unusual heart rate, high blood pressure, confusion and an increased body temperature.
Patients generally enter the third stage about 72 hours or more after their last drink. Most symptoms will start to …show more content…
If men drink more than 14 drinks per week, the NIAAA considers them to have a problem with alcohol. For women, the level is lower at seven drinks per week. Overall, there are thought to be about 16.6 million Americans who have an alcohol abuse problem.
Is a Detox Center Necessary?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can cause mood disturbances, respiration problems, seizures and an irregular heart rate. All of these symptoms are best managed by trained medical professionals. Because of this, it is important for patients to seek treatment when they start the recovery process.
At a detox center, individuals can get help managing the symptoms so that detox is as safe and healthy as possible. Many addiction treatment centers also offer services like:
- Counseling
- Group support
- Family therapy
- Addiction education
- Dual diagnosis