How Long does it take to Detox from Alcohol at Home?
Alcohol detox at home usually involves quitting cold turkey, or stopping alcohol use suddenly, without the assistance of other medications. This can be dangerous since the person’s body is used to having alcohol in their system. They will likely go through withdrawal symptoms when alcohol starts to leave their system and will follow a process similar to the timeline described earlier.
The withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, based on how dependent on alcohol a person has become. Withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from two days to several weeks. Detoxing from alcohol at home can be dangerous if the withdrawal symptoms are severe.
Risks and Benefits
The benefit of detoxing at home is that the person can do it on their own time, in a place where they feel comfortable. However, this comes with its own risks. A person detoxing at home may be more likely to use alcohol to suppress the withdrawal symptoms. They may also go through severe withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening.
One very serious alcohol withdrawal symptom is delirium tremens. A person experiencing delirium tremens may become agitated or extremely confused, have hallucinations, or experience a fast heart rate, high blood pressure, fever or sweating. These effects usually occur within 24–72 hours after stopping alcohol use. Delirium tremens can be deadly, with a mortality rate of 37% when it is not treated.
Related Topic: Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome