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In the developed nations, alcohol consumption is extensive both among men and women. Men are the major consumers of alcohol in the developing and under-developed countries. Even there, women in the higher and lower strata of the society have the habit of taking alcohol. Consuming alcohol is held as a social status symbol in many societies, thus aggravating the problem. An intimate knowledge of alcohol dependence and alcohol detox symptoms would help us in avoiding alcohol.
An alcoholic dependent person would not only have strong desire to drink alcohol but the withdrawal symptoms would start manifesting 3 to 8 hours from the last drink. The physical withdrawal symptoms are trembling, sweating, dehydration, and feeling sick, while in extreme cases, delirium tremens can set in with tremor, delirium and convulsions.
The mental symptoms would be feeling awful, depression, irritation and anger. If you avoid alcohol for a week with resolve, the physical symptoms would disappear but the craving for a drink will persist much longer. Alcohol detox symptoms occur after a course of medication that helps in preventing the withdrawal symptoms. The normal prescription for alcohol detox is chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine medication.
The alcohol detox symptoms are feeling nervous or anxious, difficulty in sleeping, and a few mild withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms pass off easily in a few days. Hence, they need not be given serious attention. However, abstaining from alcohol is not achieved by the medication. Personal resolve and determination alone can make you stop alcohol.
The temptation for the drink will be there in the mind and you will have to cope up with that by your willpower. During the alcohol detox period, the doctor might prescribe vitamins, including vitamin B1, since loss of appetite is a common alcohol detox symptom, leading to a deficiency in vitamin B1.
For chronic alcohol addicts, admittance in a specialist alcohol detox center might be necessary. Treatment would also include more powerful drugs, as well as counseling. Apart from the counseling in the specialist unit, support and care from the family members would also be necessary for the chronic addict to come out of the habit.
For such persons, the alcohol detox symptoms are likely to be more severe and expert guidance in such specialist units is of paramount importance. The doctor might prescribe medications like Acamprosate, Disulfiram, etc., which ease alcohol craving and create an aversion to alcohol. Such deterrents are likely to help chronic alcohol addicts.
Counseling from hospital staff, family members, or self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, for a longer period of time will also be useful in keeping away from alcohol for such individuals. If at all you go back to alcohol, you might cut down on the quantity and frequency of intake to avoid severe addiction or dependency.
For many people, it might take several attempts in overcoming the alcohol detox symptoms, before they give up alcohol altogether. However, there is no reason to despair. Constant attempt with mental resolve will definitely bring in good tidings. Leading the life of a teetotaler is not beyond any person, if there is a strong will.
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Fact-Find.com 2006 Alcohol Detox Symtoms
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