Person holding shot glass may want to know alcohol detox timeline.Repeated heavy or frequent drinking leads to physical dependence on alcohol. Once your body is dependent on alcohol, it needs alcohol for normal functioning. If you do not keep drinking or decide to quit abusing alcohol, you go into physical and psychological withdrawal. The alcohol detox timeline is general and varies from person to person. Specific factors of your history, health, and lifestyle affect the timeline and what symptoms you suffer. Most people go through the stages of alcohol detox in a manner represented by this timeline.

First Stage of the Alcohol Detox Timeline – Early Withdrawal

Early withdrawal usually begins within the first eight hours of the time you stop drinking. There are several clear symptoms of this stage, such as tremors. Tremors become worse if you experience agitation. These shaking symptoms start to go away after the first day or so. Other symptoms of early withdrawal include depression, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and moodiness. You suffer confusion, low energy, dilated pupils, an accelerated heartbeat, and headaches. You also experience a low appetite, nightmares, sleeplessness, nausea, vomiting, clammy skin and sweating. Early stage withdrawal symptoms of the alcohol detox timeline typically peak in one to three days, but some people suffer these problems longer.

Second Stage of Withdrawal

The second wave of withdrawal symptoms occurs if you used alcohol for a prolonged period of time or engaged in heavy drinking. Increased blood pressure and hallucinations are two of the biggest symptoms of stage two of detox. The hallucinations start around 12 to 24 hours after your last drink. About one-quarter of people going through withdrawal suffer from hallucinations. Your stage one symptoms likely continue, even worsening for some people. Some people also experience withdrawal seizures. These grand mal seizures include full-body rigidity, loss of bladder and bowel control, breathing problems, teeth clenching and uncontrollable tongue or inner cheek biting.

Third Stage of Withdrawal

The third stage of withdrawal affects about one-third of people going through the alcohol detox timeline. These symptoms appear three to four days after you stop drinking. They can last up to two weeks and may include dangerous delirium tremens (DTs) symptoms. DTs usually begin two to three days after quitting alcohol and peak at about day five. Potential symptoms of the DTs include tremors, seizures, delirium, confusion, hallucinations, mood swings, sensory sensitivity, excitability, deep sleeping and potentially fatal heart rhythm changes. DTs sometimes lead to self-harm or injury to others, even accidentally.

People experiencing DTs usually have severe alcoholism, a history of seizures or have gone through withdrawal before. This condition also affects older adults, those with liver problems or individuals with serious medical conditions. Stage three of alcohol withdrawal creates risk for death. About 15 percent of people going through stage three without medical supervision die from heart or respiratory problems. Benzodiazepines sometimes help treat individuals going through this part of alcohol detox.

Choose Serenity House Detox & Recovery for Safe Alcohol Withdrawal

Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Florida provides safe alcohol detox. This Florida alcohol detox program includes medical supervision, nutrition, comfort and support from the beginning to the end of your alcohol withdrawal timeline. Therapies and programs at Serenity House Detox & Recovery include:

Serenity House Detox & Recovery helps you take your first critical steps into sober recovery. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery you are not alone during withdrawal. You are kept comfortable, safe and secure through holistic methods and medical supervision. Don’t try to detox from alcohol at home. Safely break through to sobriety with help from the staff at Serenity House Detox & Recovery. Call now at 866-294-5306 for the best start to recovery.