Everyone’s journey into alcohol addiction is unique. The same is true of your battle out of it and into recovery. As you begin to ask, how long does it take to detox from alcohol? It is important to remember that your specific, personalized alcohol detox timeline will be unique. You can address these challenges during your time in an alcohol detox center like Summit Estate Recovery Center. The symptoms you experienced during detox, the stories of abuse, and the beginning of recovery may sound similar. Reach out to us today online or by calling us at 800.701.6997 to learn how our alcohol detox center can be the starting point for the rest of your life.
The Alcohol Detox Timeline
If you drink alcohol to excess and attempt to stop suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Your alcohol detox timeline starts within a few hours or a few days and might be intense or uncomfortable. If you have a history of abusing alcohol over many years, then the impact of detox can be severe and even life-threatening. A medical and professional alcohol detox center is essential to start down the road to sobriety safely.
Your alcohol detox timeline depends on several factors, including:
- How much you drink
- How long you’ve been drinking
- Prior detox experiences
- Your medical history
There are general guidelines about when you can expect to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms in several stages along the alcohol detox timeline:
6 Hours
Six hours after your last drink, you may experience minor alcohol withdrawal symptoms. An individual who has a long history of drinking heavily could experience a seizure at this early stage along the alcohol detox timeline.
12 to 24 Hours
A small percentage of people who go through withdrawal at an alcohol detox center may experience hallucinations at the 12 to 24-hour mark in the alcohol detox timeline. Hearing and seeing things that aren’t there may seem scary. However, trained, compassionate medical professionals will be on hand, and they do not consider it a serious complication. Still, receiving care in an alcohol detox center can help you get through these symptoms safely as you work toward a sober life.
24 to 48 Hours
Minor withdrawal symptoms will continue during this time, with some symptoms including:
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Upset stomach
If a person goes through only minor withdrawal, their symptoms usually peak at 18 to 24 hours and start to decrease after four to five days.
48 Hours to 72 Hours
Some individuals on the road to recovery while experiencing alcohol detox will suffer a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that doctors call delirium tremens (DTs) or alcohol withdrawal delirium. Signs of this condition include:
- High heart rate
- Seizures
- Increased body temperature
72 Hours
At three days, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are usually at their worst. Receiving care in a medical alcohol detox center through a treatment program is crucial to staying safe and staying sober at this critical juncture in the alcohol detox timeline. Most people asking how long it takes to detox from alcohol are likely focused on and worried about this period of time and how long it will last. With proper medical care, detox symptoms cease roughly four to five days after their last drink. To manage those days safely, seek out help from the alcohol abuse detox center at Summit Estate Recovery Center.
The Withdrawal Symptoms During an Alcohol Detox
Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, causing feelings of relaxation and extreme euphoria. Because your body usually works to maintain balance, it will signal your brain to make more neurotransmitter receptors that excite or stimulate the central nervous system.
When you stop drinking, alcohol does not flow to those receptors. As a result, your nervous system becomes overactive, causing detox symptoms such as:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Tremors
Learn More at Summit Estate Recovery Center
If your drinking makes you feel out of control and you are ready to seek help, the alcohol detox center at Summit Estate Recovery Center can assist you on your road to recovery. Through detox and therapy, led by caring, skilled medical professionals, you can not only overcome the alcohol detox process but your alcohol addiction as well. Call us at 800.701.6997 or reach out online to get the help you deserve today.