The Arduous Process of Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detoxification is almost always invariably connected with the medical condition known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome. This is not a new medical condition, by any means. In fact, alcohol withdrawal syndrome has been observed in individuals who have become physically dependent on alcohol since the 1800s. When it comes to medical research data, there is certainly no lack of information on the subject matter. What is worth noting, however, is that there is no known cure for the condition known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome as well as its accompanying symptoms. The best that current medical science can do is to simply alleviate the suffering of the individual patient through drug treatment. It is worth noting that drug treatment may be required in some alcohol detox patients who are suffering from some of the more extreme symptoms of alcohol withdrawal such as diarrhea, dehydration and hallucinations which may lead to the DTs or delirium trumens.
There are several stages of alcohol withdrawal. During the process of alcohol detoxification, the onset of alcohol withdrawal syndrome will generally be triggered by a fever, which will then be accompanied by a host of other mild symptoms including sweating, shaking, headache and some degree of nausea. Vomiting may also occur depending on the physical constitution of the individual. These symptoms are generally not very dangerous and do not require any special medical attention. In order to prevent dehydration, it is important for the individual detox patient to have access to plenty of drinking water.
During the second stage of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which generally occurs at about 10-24 hours after the initial onset of the symptoms, hallucinations, including auditory along with visual illusions may occur. From the first stage of alcohol withdrawal, autonomic hyperactivity may persist.
At the third stage, delirium trumens may occur if the syndrome is left untreated. Fortunately, only a small percentage of individuals experience third stage alcohol withdrawal. The symptoms generally stop at the second stage. A fourth stage may also develop if the symptoms still persist despite drug treatment. Hallucinations will become more severe along with autonomic hyperactivity.
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