If you have used alcohol for a significant period of time, you might have experienced withdrawal symptoms after the buzz wore off. Perhaps you’ve been afraid to quit because you’re anxious about what detox entails. Quitting cold turkey can produce agonizing side effects, some of which can be deadly. Alcohol withdrawal medications can support you and provide a safe foundation for recovery.
Causes of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol slows down your body’s internal messaging system. It depresses the functioning of your brain, nervous system and major organs. Your body puts in extra effort to help it stay in balance while you’re drinking too much.
Your body also begins to rely on alcohol to achieve those relaxing effects. When you don’t drink, your body goes into a state of heightened activity, which can make you feel jittery, irritable or nervous. You start to feel like you need the substance to feel normal. This is called alcohol dependence.
When you are dependent on alcohol, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. These include:
- Anxiety
- Shakiness
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Delerium Tremens
Alcohol Withdrawal Can Be Hazardous
Alcohol detox is necessary if you want to move toward recovery. You have to eliminate the substance from your system before you can begin treatment.
When you stop using the substance, your body goes into overdrive. This can make withdrawal dangerous if you’re not medically supervised.
Some people are at a greater risk of experiencing these intense side effects. Individuals who have been drinking daily for a decade or more, those who binge drink for at least two weeks at a time and elderly patients may have a harder time with withdrawal. However, alcohol withdrawal syndrome can affect anyone. Adequate monitoring, alcohol withdrawal medications and support during the detox process can make withdrawal more comfortable and potentially save your life.
How Can Alcohol Withdrawal Medications Help?
Alcohol withdrawal medications keep your body balanced. They also prevent complications such as seizures, anxiety, and insomnia. Benzodiazepines may be used to help you stay relaxed and prevent convulsions.
Antipsychotics can also treat co-occurring disorders and calm you down if you become agitated or aggressive. However, they can increase the risk of seizures. They should not be administered without medical supervision.
You can ease into recovery with the medical detox program at Serenity House. This Florida alcohol detox facility focuses on giving you the support you need to prepare for a new life. A positive detox experience lowers your risk of relapsing.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery, we customize your program so that you get the most out of it. Our compassionate staff specializes in personalized treatment, including:
- Medical detox
- Relapse prevention education
- Detox for loved ones
- Affordable detox
- Drug detox
Get started with the rest of your life, alcohol-free. Don’t wait. Contact Serenity House Detox & Recovery at 866-294-5306 to find out how we use alcohol withdrawal medications to make the process smooth, safe and comfortable.