Alcohol can become highly addictive in just a short amount of time. If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol after excessive use, you can experience severe withdrawal symptoms that may start just a few hours after your last drink.
As uncomfortable as it may be, it’s important to go through this process if you want to start a new leaf and begin living a life of sobriety. The good news is that there is a safer and more comfortable way to detox.
With the help of detox professionals, you can detox from alcohol in a safe and comfortable manner, but how long will the process take?
How long does it take an alcoholic to detox? Scroll down to find out.
How Long Does Detox From Alcohol Take?
Answering the question, “How long does detox from alcohol take?” is difficult because it varies on a number of factors. How long you have been drinking alcohol, how much is in your system, and any other substances that are present impact the time frame.
Even so, most people detox from alcohol for about four to five days after their last drink. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms peak on the third day and subside entirely by the fifth day.
Unfortunately, some people experience persistent withdrawal symptoms for months after their last drink, though it often occurs in severe cases or cases where other substances are used.
How Long Does Detoxing From Alcohol Take vs Other Substances
Detoxing from alcohol is often a shorter process than detoxing from other substances. However, the detox process is often more severe and comes with more serious risks when detoxing from alcohol. It’s important to always detox with the help of a trained professional as a result.
What to Expect During Detox from Alcohol
You may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms just a few hours to a few days after your last drink. The severity of your addiction will largely impact how soon you begin feeling symptoms. For most individuals, symptoms appear 12 to 24 hours after their last drink.
Once withdrawal symptoms appear, they will gradually get worse until they peak. Most individuals experience peak withdrawal symptoms around three days after their last drink. That peak will begin to come down. Most do not experience any more withdrawal symptoms four to five days after their last drink, though some may experience symptoms until seven days after their last drink.
In severe cases, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can last longer than seven days. These cases are rare and often occur whenever alcohol is mixed with other substances.
Dangers of Detoxing from Alcohol Alone
Although detoxing from alcohol is a shorter process than detoxing from other substances, it’s important to always detox at a medical facility. Detoxing from alcohol by yourself is painful, dangerous, and often ineffective.
The symptoms of alcohol detox are super uncomfortable, which causes many individuals to turn back to drinking shortly after attempting detox. Some individuals may have enough willpower to fight through these symptoms, but some symptoms are fatal.
For example, one of the more severe side effects of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens. This side effect is fatal and 5% to 15% of patients. Because of how dangerous these side effects are, it’s best to always detox from alcohol with professionals.
Detox Safely with Veritas Detox
How long does detox from alcohol take? Most people detox from alcohol within a week of their last drink, but the process ultimately depends on your case.
Veritas Detox can help you detox from alcohol in a safe and comfortable way. Contact our facility today to learn more about our medical detox program.