How Long Does Alcohol Detox Take?
The duration of alcohol detox may be anywhere from a few days to multiple weeks, depending on factors like a person’s drinking patterns and the severity of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
How Long Is Alcohol Detox?
Every person’s body is different, and the duration of alcohol detox may be anywhere from 3-5 days to multiple weeks. However, the standard alcohol detox process lasts around one week and encompasses the classic four stages of alcohol withdrawal.
If a person has developed a physical dependence on alcohol, alcohol withdrawal syndrome causes the negative symptoms experienced during detox.
Alcohol Detox Timeline
The timeline for alcohol detox is usually identified by four stages, with new symptoms appearing in expected time intervals. Symptoms may be expected to appear in the following time intervals:
- 6-12 hours after last drink: Stage 1, uncomplicated withdrawal begins
- 8-12 hours after last drink: Stage 2, alcohol hallucinations begins
- 12-24 hours after last drink: Stage 3, alcohol withdrawal seizures may begin
- 24-72 hours after last drink: Stage 4, alcohol withdrawal delirium may begin
Most people do not experience symptoms past stage 1. However, the more severe a person’s physical dependence and drinking habits are, the more severe their withdrawal symptoms will be.
How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?
The alcohol withdrawal timeline is similar to the timeline for detox but may vary depending on the severity of a person’s addiction. The majority of people who experience withdrawal symptoms only experience stage 1 or stage 2, with physical symptoms resolving within a week.
Acute withdrawal is completed with detoxification, but some people may continue to experience symptoms for a year or more after their last drink—a syndrome known as post-acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
Need Addiction Support?
Reach out to a treatment provider today! Calls are always free and confidential.
What Are The Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome causes a wide range of physical and mental effects, some of which are life-threatening without medical intervention. With each stage of alcohol withdrawal, the symptoms heighten in discomfort and danger for the person experiencing them. The previous stages do not have to resolve before another stage begins.
Stage 1
Stage 1 of alcohol withdrawal is known as uncomplicated withdrawal because its symptoms are often mild to moderate in severity and resolve without complication after about a week. Symptoms of stage 1 may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Upset GI system (including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or cramping)
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Mild anxiety
- Racing heart
- Tremors
Though not life-threatening, they can be extremely uncomfortable and difficult to push through without adequate support or symptom management.
Stage 2
Stage 2 of alcohol withdrawal, known as alcoholic hallucinosis, is when a person may experience a variety of hallucinations.
In the 2%-8% of people who develop them, hallucinations generally resolve within 48 hours of onset.
Hallucinations may involve any of the five senses—auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, or visual experiences of phenomena that are not truly there.
Stage 3
Stage 3 of alcohol withdrawal is when alcoholic seizures may begin. Though seizures typically begin between 12-24 hours after the last drink, the risk for seizure development remains until 48 hours of abstinence.
Between 5%-10% of people with alcohol withdrawal syndrome go on to develop seizures.
Without treatment, about two-thirds of people who have one seizure will go on to develop multiple seizures, which may turn into status epilepticus (ongoing seizures that do not self-resolve). Multiple seizures in close succession and status epilepticus can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
Stage 4
Stage 4 of alcohol withdrawal is identified by a state of delirium known as delirium tremens (DTs). Symptoms experienced during delirium tremens include a state of delirium characterized by:
- Increased agitation
- Sweating
- Disorientation and confusion
- Changes in consciousness
- Visual hallucinations
- High blood pressure
- Low fever
- Increased heart rate
Though delirium tremens does not usually start until 24-72 hours after the last drink, it can begin as soon as 8 hours after abstinence, with a greater risk for those who have previously experienced a complicated alcohol withdrawal. Without intervention, rates of death in cases of delirium tremens have been known to be as high as 20%; a result of infection, irregular heart rhythms, or respiratory failure.
Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome
Protracted withdrawal syndrome, also known as post-acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), is a condition that is common in people with prior chronic heavy alcohol use. Symptoms are often worse during the first 6 months of abstinence but can persist for much longer. PAWS symptoms often include:
- Irritability
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Increased tiredness
- Feeling restless
- Poor attention span
- Alcohol cravings
Experiencing PAWS after detox puts people at an increased risk for relapse. The risk of PAWS is one of many reasons mental health professionals recommend ongoing substance use disorder treatment after detox.
What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the body’s reaction as it readjusts to functioning without alcohol. Chronic heavy drinking causes a person to develop physical alcohol dependence. Physical dependence is the result of a body’s slow adaptation to the constant presence of alcohol. These adaptations are what allow chronic, heavy drinkers to function normally, even if they have been sipping hard alcohol all day.
When a person stops drinking, the brain and body take time to readjust communication and signaling that controls central body systems. Withdrawal symptoms result from the dysregulation of the central brain and body systems while the body adapts to a new normal.
Alcohol Help is not affiliated with any insurance.
What Treatments Are Used During Alcohol Detox?
Depending on the severity of alcohol use disorder and other medical and personal factors, alcohol withdrawal can be treated inpatient or outpatient.
Mental health professionals in medical detox programs can offer supervision to identify dangerous symptoms, prescribe medication to minimize symptoms, and provide counseling or other therapies throughout treatment. Alcohol withdrawal may be treated with the following treatment medications:
- Benzodiazepines, including lorazepam or oxazepam
- Gabapentin
- Anticonvulsants
- Clonidine
- Beta blockers, such as atenolol
Some medications directly work against the mechanism of withdrawal, and others act as a short-term solution, simply treating symptoms as they appear.
Medically Supervised Detox Vs. At-Home Detox
Medically supervised detox, or medical detox, is a safer alternative to at-home detox for alcohol. Detoxing at home for alcohol can be life-threatening due to the risk of developing complicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Going through an inpatient medical detox program or with close supervision from an outpatient doctor increases a person’s chance of getting sober safely and successfully. Using traditional symptom management, having the ability to prescribe medication when needed, and beginning involvement with behavioral therapy or mutual aid groups, medical detox programs simultaneously address your detox needs and set you up for a smooth transition into complete alcohol addiction treatment.
Attempting detox at home is not only dangerous, it also doesn’t provide the additional support that many people need for long-term success. Even if a person manages to struggle through withdrawal, many find it difficult to immediately transition into a treatment program after detox, putting them at risk for relapse.
Find An Alcohol Detox Center
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol misuse and need to detox, there are many treatment centers available to help. Contact a treatment provider today who can help you explore your treatment options and start your path to recovery.
Let detox be your first step in healing from addiction.