How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

Mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms last for 5–7 days, but severe symptoms including delirium tremens can linger on for a few weeks. How long does alcohol withdrawal last depends on your history of alcohol abuse, frequency of drinking, and metabolism. It is important to quit alcohol through a medically supervised alcohol detox to keep the withdrawal symptoms from aggravating. 

Abusing alcohol can put you at risk of developing cancer. Begin your alcohol addiction treatment at ChoicePoint rehab in NJ today to overcome the side effects of alcohol and get a healthier life 844.445.2565.

CALL NOW FOR FREE SCREENING

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms 

Once you have developed a dependency on alcohol, cessation is hard. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the activity of your brain, making it believe that it can’t work without alcohol. That’s why when you try to stop drinking, you experience alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome range from mild, to moderate to severe depending on your history of alcohol use disorder. 

Mild Signs Of Alcohol Withdrawal

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Abdominal discomfort
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Brain fog

Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

• Nervousness
• Minor anxiety
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Hypertension
• Pins and needles

Severe Symptoms of Alcohol Cessation

People with heavy drinking and a long history of alcohol may experience delirium tremens which manifest as:

• Visual and auditory Hallucinations
• Disorientation 
• Agitation
• Fear
• High temperature
• Confusion
• Sudden shaking

How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

You can experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms for 5–7 days, with the peak reaching the third day. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms start appearing within 12–24 hours of alcohol use, and can last for a few days and even weeks, depending on:

• Your alcohol use disorder history 
• The frequency of alcohol intake
• Your overall health status
• Metabolism

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline

The alcohol withdrawal timeline follows three stages, as discussed in the table below:

Most people will have their symptoms getting less intense after stage 2 of alcohol withdrawal. About 10% of people with severe AUD may enter stage 3 of withdrawal and experience intense symptoms, including seizures. 

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

What Helps With Alcohol Withdrawal Management?

It is important never to quit alcohol cold turkey, otherwise, the withdrawal symptoms can aggravate further and may even lead you to death. Instead, you should always seek professional help from a hospital or an addiction treatment center to detox from alcohol under the medical supervision of addiction professionals. Here are the 4 solutions that a DEA-certified addiction professional may recommend to you:

a. Medically Supervised Alcohol Detox

A medically supervised alcohol detox allows you to flush alcohol out of your body strategically under the supervision of your addiction doctor, who will monitor your vitals and the intensity of the symptoms. Addiction doctors use clinical alcohol withdrawal scales to measure the severity of alcohol withdrawal. 

b. Alcohol Withdrawal Medication​ 

While managing the mild withdrawal symptoms is not difficult, moderate and severe symptoms require you to seek professional help. Your doctor can recommend an Alcohol MAT program to ease withdrawal and control alcohol cravings. Here is an overview of a few medicines potentially helpful in reducing the uncomfortable withdrawal:

• Certain benzodiazepines: Such as Xanax for alcohol withdrawal are used to reduce anxiety, headaches, and seizures.

• Antipsychotic meds: If benzodiazepines are not enough to manage delirium tremens, your addiction medicine specialist may prescribe Risperdal and Seroquel in combination with benzos. 

• Antiepileptics: Levetiracetam has also been found to be effective in reducing hyperactivity, or convulsions associated with AWS.

• Barbiturates: Barbiturates such as phenobarbital can be as effective as benzos for managing headaches, nausea, and body pain in AWS but have a few side effects, which is why they are not frequently administered.
• Clomethiazole: Comes in oral form and works on the brain receptors to help improve insomnia due to alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

c. Follow Detox With Outpatient or Inpatient Addiction Rehab 

Detox can only help you wean off alcohol. It is important to seek services from an inpatient or outpatient rehab near you to learn coping tools and minimize your chances of going back to binge drinking. From online alcohol assessment to rapid detox and alcohol counseling, ChoicePoint a Fairlawn rehab provides complete addiction treatment to help you beat alcohol use disorder. 

d. FDA-approved Alcohol MAT Treatment For Alcohol Dependence

Once your withdrawal symptoms are eased out, you can be prescribed FDA-approved medication for long-term use to help you stay away from drinking alcohol. These include:

Naltrexone: Keeps alcohol from creating euphoria to reduce the cravings and prevent a relapse.

Acamprosate: Stabilizes the brain functions to curb cravings for alcohol.

Disulfiram: Disrupts the alcohol metabolism to prevent a relapse.

Vivitrol: It’s a naltrexone injection administered for maintaining alcohol abstinence and relapse prevention.

What to Expect When You Stop Drinking

Online Alcohol Counseling

While medications are effective in managing withdrawal symptoms and curbing cravings, it is important to complement them with counseling from online NJ alcohol therapists. Counseling can help you:

• Understand the side effects of drinking
• Identify triggers
• Learn ways to modify your behavior
• Abstain from alcohol

a. Peer Support Groups

Alcohol treatment centers can help you find people who you can relate to. Support groups are a non-clinical solution to addiction that provides motivation and solace to enable you to stay on the recovery track without feeling lonely. Alcohol recovery groups get you engaged in group activities so you:

• Learn from others’ experiences
• Develop social skills
• Improve your relationships
• Overcome behavior issues

b. Extended Care

Extended care or an aftercare program is a way to remain in touch with your outpatient or inpatient rehab for alcoholism even though you are officially sober. It allows you to refill your prescriptions, take feedback from your doctor on your progress, and re-adjust your alcohol recovery goals if required. 

Reach Out To ChoicePoint For Alcohol Addiction Treatment 

ChoicePoint is a Fair Lawn rehab providing addiction treatment services throughout New Jersey. We provide treatment for alcohol, drugs, and dual diagnosis, so our clients can achieve long-term sobriety. Our DEA-certified addiction professionals will work with you to create a personalized treatment that can help you overcome alcohol abuse, no matter how long you have been on it. Whether you need an initial assessment, alcohol detox near you, prescription refills, or online substance abuse psychiatrist services, we can help you. Get in touch with us today to begin your alcohol-free journey 844.445.2565.

Online Query Hub: How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

Alcohol detox leads to many symptoms that can be uncomfortable for heavy drinkers. Get your queries answered before you sign up for inpatient or New Jersey outpatient alcohol detox: 

How Long Do Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Last?​

As a rule of thumb, alcohol withdrawal symptoms subside by the 10th day of your last drink, but people with severe withdrawal can experience symptoms even for a few months. Delirium tremens are the most intense symptoms as a result of alcohol in people with a long history of alcohol use. They result in agitation, anxiety, and confusion.

How Long Does It Take For Your Body To Adjust After You Stop Drinking?

Quitting alcohol results in withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea, cramps, muscle aches, etc) that can be unpleasant. It can take about 5–10 days for these symptoms to go away and your body to start feeling normal without alcohol. However, alcohol cravings can last for a few months, which you can control by seeking professional help. 

How Long Does It Take For Brain Chemistry To Return To Normal After Alcohol?

If you are a moderate drinker, your brain will start repairing itself within a few days of quitting alcohol, and it might be a few weeks until it is back to almost normal. But if you have a long history of alcohol abuse, you might develop a wet brain due to alcoholism. It can take years for your brain to overcome the effects of alcohol on its communication pathway. You can follow these tips to make the brain heal from alcohol quickly:

• Start meditation
• Try out yoga
• Get addiction therapy
• Get involved in brain exercises

When Does Alcohol Withdrawal Peak?

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal peak on either day 2 or day 3 of the last use of alcohol. But this can vary based on your:

• Metabolism
• History of alcohol abuse
• Presence of comorbidities

Can 2 weeks Of No Alcohol Help Your Liver?

Your liver may or may not be able to repair in 2 weeks of no alcohol use, depending on how severe the damage was. If it is a mild fatty liver disease, then you can expect recovery in two weeks but for severe liver inflammation, it can take months to get back to normal. Contacting a doctor can help you know how to hear your liver after alcohol abuse.

Can I Use Librium® For Alcohol Withdrawal?

Librium® is a benzodiazepine, and they are the first line of treatment for alcohol detox. Librium® can be used to alleviate moderate symptoms such as anxiety, hypertension, fatigue, and mood swings and can prevent them from becoming severe.

References

1. National Center For Biotechnology Information. 2023. Delirium Tremens
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482134/
2. National Center For Biotechnology Information. 2024. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/
3. Clinical Therapeutics. 2023. Closing the Care Gap: Management of Alcohol Use Disorder in Patients with Alcohol-associated Liver Disease
   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149291823003806
4. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica.2016. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6084325/
5. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse. Alcohol’s Effects on Health
   https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics