Together, these four drugs make up 99% of benzodiazepine prescriptions. Your nervous system uses chemical and electrical signals to send and relay messages throughout your body. The chemical signals, known as neurotransmitters, can attach to cells with the right receptors.

TRICARE EAST Coverage for Drug & Alcohol Rehab

Substances send massive surges of dopamine through your brain, too, as well as certain activities, like having sex or spending money. There’s not a single cause of addiction — it’s a very complex condition. A significant part of how addiction develops is through changes in your brain chemistry. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic brain disorder. Addiction doesn’t happen from having a lack of willpower or as a result of making bad decisions.

Types of Alcohol: Which Ones Are Safe to Drink and Which Ones Are Dangerous?

Chronic dehydration can affect how you feel, how your skin looks, your hair quality and your overall well-being. By the first week after stopping alcohol, you will be more hydrated. The effects of being well-hydrated will continue to build, having more positive results as you continue sobriety. If physical symptoms last beyond seven days, they will generally be over sometime in the middle of week two. After the intense physical strain of withdrawal, people will often be fatigued. Non-physical symptoms, like cravings and desire for the comfort alcohol provides, may become more noticeable as the distraction of physical symptoms subsides.

Seizures can occur, and an uncommon but dangerous condition called delirium tremens can happen at this point in withdrawal. Delirium tremens has a fatality rate of 37% if untreated and is considered a medical emergency. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information.

How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Typically Last?

This can include helping with daily tasks, such as cooking and cleaning, and providing transportation to medical appointments. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, has re-emerged as a highly effective medication for alcohol withdrawal, especially for severe or benzodiazepine-resistant cases. It is particularly valuable in emergency departments (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) settings. During alcohol withdrawal, the brain experiences a surge in excitatory neurotransmitter activity, particularly glutamate.

Energy levels and sleep patterns may still feel disrupted, but physical discomfort often improves. Continued support helps manage lingering symptoms and prepares individuals for next-step treatment planning. The length and intensity of alcohol detox vary from person to person.

Therapy for alcohol dependency

While there are separate types because they have different primary effects, there’s a lot of overlap between them. For example, most benzodiazepines have a sedative effect in addition to their primary effect. He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University. Treatment plans should be adjusted based on your symptoms and clinical response.

🚨 Clinical Bottom Line

• Furthermore, you’re putting yourself at risk for treatment failure and prolonged withdrawal symptoms.
• The successful treatment of alcohol withdrawal depends on rigorous monitoring and systematic adjustment of treatment plans.
• As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it.
• Most medication treatments are designed to last up to 6 months for optimal effectiveness.
• The steps include admitting you’re powerless over alcohol and your life has become unmanageable, admitting you’ve acted wrongly and, where possible, making amends with people you’ve harmed.
• For patients who do not respond adequately to high doses of benzodiazepines, phenobarbital can be a critical, life-saving intervention.

This is Alcohol Withdrawal where you stop taking the substance, allowing it to leave your body. Depending on the severity, a healthcare provider may offer medications to lessen the effects of withdrawal symptoms, as they can be rough physically and mentally. The Provider Locator is searchable by ZIP code or by city and state.

Inpatient Treatment

Using alcohol frequently or consistently increases your blood pressure, leading to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. As early as one week after stopping alcohol, you will likely begin to see benefits. The physical symptoms of withdrawal will be past their worst for most people, and the benefits of quitting alcohol will start to be noticeable. The peak of withdrawal often occurs after about 48–72 hours after your last drink. At this point, all symptoms that are going to happen will be present and will be at their worst. The most dangerous symptoms that can develop will do so as symptoms peak.

Transitioning From Detox to Ongoing Treatment

Use of these substances can lead to substance use disorders (SUDs) — but not always. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any opioid-containing medicines for pain, cough or colds, or diarrhea.