Alcohol Rehab Program

When a person consumes alcohol on a regular basis over a long period of time the sudden cessation of its intake can cause a number of problems. Known as Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, it is a collection of symptoms that include irritability, insomnia, uncontrollable shaking and may even include hallucinations and seizures.

In the more extreme cases alcohol withdrawal can be extremely dangerous and even life threatening.

Thats why treatment for alcohol withdrawal does not just include helping the person get through the withdrawal. Proper treatment needs to address not just a patients immediate comfort level but should work to limit the potential for more extreme symptoms from showing up and also prevent or limit the amount of symptoms they may experience in the future.

Typical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can appear from 6 to 48 hours after a persons alcohol intake has stopped. Initial symptoms can include headaches, sweating, irritability and maybe even nausea or vomiting. These initial symptoms will taper off after 24 to 48 hours.

Delirium tremens, also known as DT’s, are more serious and include an increased heart and breathing rate as well as a rise in blood pressure. While the DT’s are more severe they usually occour in a small percentage of the patients going through alcohol withdrawals. Often the DT’s do not show up until 2 to 4 days after alcohol consumption has been eliminated from a persons diet.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the result of a nervous system reaction in the body of the person no longer consuming alcohol.

The most important aspect of treatment for alcohol withdrawal is to make sure that the patient has enough water in their system to keep them properly hydrated. Often diharea and vomiting combined with uncontrollable sweating will leave a person dehydrated without their realizing the severity of the situation. This is especially important in the more severe cases of alcohol withdrawal where lack of water can worsen the problems with the heart and kidneys.

Electrolyte consumption along with the water intake is also important as it is believed that a lack of magnesium in a persons body greatly increases the risk of more severe seizures. A broad range of Electrolytes are important in the natural functioning of the body.

Vitamin deficiencies are also a factor in the treatment of alcohol withdrawals. A good multi vitam should be taken on a regular basis with a focus on the B vitamins. Insuring that the multi vitamin includes Folic Acid as well as Thiamine can go a long way towards helping the patients body to cope with the symptoms. (Most multi vitamins also include many of the electrolytes and minerals needed)

The importance of Thiamine in ones diet can not be stressed enough when it comes to alcohol withdrawal. A lack of Thiamine can lead to Wernicke Syndrome, itself charactarized by an awkward walk, mental confusion and loss of eye muscle movement, but can also progress into long term irreversible dementia.