The relief of withdrawal symptoms allows the alcoholic to get out of the binge relatively painlessly in the shortest possible time. It is extremely difficult to do this on your own, at home, since the withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism differs little from withdrawal symptoms, which is observed in a drug addict after giving up drugs. It also appears several hours after the alcoholic abruptly stops drinking, accompanied by nausea, psychosis, extremely depressed state, hallucinations. Therefore, the question of what kind of treatment at home provides for withdrawal symptoms in alcoholism, with a sharp exit from binge drinking, is more relevant than ever.
Characteristics of the disease
Withdrawal syndrome is the development of neurological, mental, physical disorders that appear in an alcoholic after stopping the binge or reducing the number of doses used. The main cause of the disease is that the alcoholic’s body is accustomed to constant intoxication, and therefore protests when the intake of alcoholic toxins into the body stops . In addition, psychological dependence on alcohol makes itself felt. This increases the person’s need for a drink, so he is often unable to resist – and the hand reaches for the bottle.
This disease occurs only at the second stage of alcoholism, but its first manifestations are noticeable already at the initial stage of addiction. The syndrome has similar symptoms to a hangover, only to a significantly increased degree. The presence of withdrawal symptoms is an irrefutable symptom of an alcoholic’s dependence on alcohol and signals that it is extremely difficult to cope with the disease at home, without medical assistance.
Withdrawal symptoms are characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe headaches;
- vomiting, nausea, diarrhea;
- dizziness, loss of coordination;
- increased body temperature, fever;
- trembling hands and even the whole body;
- rapid pulse, shortness of breath;
- high or low blood pressure;
- lack of appetite;
- pallor of the skin of the face;
- anxiety, psychosis, depression;
- insomnia, nightmares, hallucinations.
Symptoms appear six hours after stopping alcohol use, are very difficult, last four to fourteen days. How much depends largely on the amount of alcohol, the method of treatment and the patient’s health. If he manages to refrain from drinking during this period, the symptoms of the syndrome disappear over time. With the inability of the alcohol addict to resist the temptation, he again goes into a binge.
Experts mention several stages of this condition. The mildest degree is uncomplicated withdrawal symptoms. It is characterized by cravings for alcohol, tremors of the eyelids, tongue, and outstretched arms. The addict also sweats a lot, he is nauseous, vomiting appears, and the heart rate increases. Blood pressure usually rises, the alcoholic is very agitated, he has a headache, insomnia, depression, and apathy are observed. Short-term auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations are possible.
The more severe stage is accompanied by the same symptoms, but is complicated by seizures. The withdrawal state with delirium is worst tolerated: all of the above symptoms accompany the most severe form of mental disorders, which are characterized by clouding of consciousness, delirium, hallucinations, as well as disruption of the internal organs.
Why is it better to see a doctor
It is difficult for an alcoholic to get out of a binge on his own, without medical assistance. To reduce its manifestations, it is necessary to stop alcohol withdrawal. This is the name of the withdrawal from binge with the help of drugs. Which drugs will cope with the task largely depends on the symptoms, for which you first need to be tested.
Then, based on the results obtained, signs of ailment, the doctor prescribes complex therapy. It is categorically impossible to act at your own peril and risk while taking the medicine, independently determining the dosage: this can aggravate the situation.
Treatment of withdrawal symptoms may include the use of droppers, injections, pills, which are used to treat poisoning. These can be the following means:
- absorbents (activated carbon and other products);
- hemodez and other drugs for detoxification of the body;
- rheopolyglucin and other drugs, which help to reduce the viscosity of blood, which has thickened under the influence of alcohol, improves blood circulation in the capillaries, prevents the formation of blood clots from erythrocytes and platelets;
- 5% glucose solution, which provides the body with energy;
- osmotic diuretics for accelerated excretion of decay products along with urine;
- medicines to strengthen the liver damaged by toxins;
- with chills, sweating, tachycardia, prescribe pyrroxan or grandaxin;
- to suppress strong arousal, prescribe sonapax, rispolept, relanium;
- if anxiety accompanies depression, coaxil or amitriptyline may be prescribed;
- with insomnia, which is accompanied by heavy sleep, hallucinations, tizercin will help;
- if a person feels aggression, tension, neuleptil is prescribed.
All alcohol addicts are prescribed B vitamins, paying special attention to thiamine (B1), the lack of which has a catastrophic effect on the functioning of the brain, as well as memory. It is prescribed to be taken within a week.
We treat ourselves
If the patient categorically refuses to see a doctor (and with alcohol addicts it is quite possible), you can try to relieve him of the problem at home. But this process will be much longer and may take two weeks. To remove the manifestations of the syndrome at home, the patient should be given as much water as possible to drink (this method is especially effective for uncomplicated withdrawal symptoms).
During the fight against alcoholic toxins, the body loses a huge amount of fluid, therefore it needs to replenish water reserves, which is signaled by a dry throat and some other symptoms.
When starting treatment, you need to keep in mind: the faster alcoholic toxins are removed from the body, the faster the ailment will go away. Medichronal will help with this. This medicine promotes the elimination of poisons from the body, and also improves metabolism, strengthens the nervous system, relieves the symptoms of the syndrome. The drug is produced in the form of a water-soluble powder. Home therapy involves taking the drug for two to three days. According to reviews, this is an effective remedy, it cannot be used only for diabetes mellitus and allergies to the components of the drug.
In order for the relief of alcohol withdrawal syndrome to be successful, a full sleep is necessary, which the alcohol addict is deprived of when leaving the binge at home. For this, tranquilizers are prescribed. Relatives of an alcohol addict must necessarily consult a doctor and follow the recommendations without fail, otherwise addiction and a new type of addiction will arise. If a person is categorically against such strong drugs, valerian extract will help calm the nervous system.
If your heart is worried, you can take valocardin, corvalol or validol. But it should be borne in mind: they are incompatible with alcohol, so it makes no sense to apply before the person has come out of the binge. Alcohol will neutralize the effects of drugs, and the combination will cause serious side effects.
Traditional methods and nutrition
If we talk about how to relieve withdrawal symptoms with folk remedies, then this can be done with the help of a decoction of motherwort, as well as sedative preparations, which include various medicinal plants. Also, folk remedies will help restore the functioning of the liver, kidneys and other internal organs. The work of the digestive system is positively influenced by rosehip broth, birch or grape juice.
Vitamin-mineral complexes that normalize metabolic processes in cells will be useful. Particular attention should be paid to vitamins B and C, which contribute to the normalization of the nervous system. For this purpose, such folk remedies as decoctions of chamomile, mint, rose hips, as well as orange, apple, tomato, carrot juices are recommended.
Particular attention should be paid to the diet. When a person comes out of a binge, in most cases he absolutely does not want to eat. Bananas, chicken broth, rice or vegetable soup will help restore strength. Fermented milk products that neutralize alcoholic toxins will also be useful. As the appetite returns, special attention should be paid to cereals, vegetables, fruits. It is undesirable to drink coffee and other drinks that excite the nervous system, since they can provoke post-withdrawal syndrome and return the craving for alcohol.
What to do next?
You need to know: relief of withdrawal symptoms, although it relieves physical symptoms, does not cure psychological dependence. Moreover, post-withdrawal syndrome may appear. It occurs immediately after the acute phase of withdrawal symptoms. The post-withdrawal syndrome manifests itself in the difficulty of thinking, poor memory, excessive emotionality, poor sleep, and nervousness. Post-withdrawal syndrome lowers a person’s self-esteem and contributes to his return to the bottle.
When you exit the hangover syndrome, it is forbidden to get drunk. Even small doses, including low-alcohol drinks, are dangerous: the addict will break loose and go back to the binge. Therefore, it is very important that loved ones do not give in to persuasion to buy alcohol, and continue the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. At the same time, the patient must be monitored: he may well persuade a friend or a neighbor’s boy to run for a bottle.
If it becomes obvious that the withdrawal syndrome has become severe, convulsions, mental disorders, hallucinations have begun, it is better to immediately send the alcoholic to the hospital. There, they will select the optimal therapy regimen for him, and quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease.
For this reason, if an alcohol addict has decided to get rid of cravings for alcohol, he needs special treatment that will relieve post-withdrawal syndrome. Therapy in this direction provides courses of psychotherapy, the purpose of which is to teach an alcohol addict to live anew, to find pleasure in life without alcohol.
Success in treating a patient largely depends on his friends and family. Even after a person gets rid of the craving for a bottle, they should not offer him a drink, as well as not drink themselves in his presence. If the addict drinks at least beer even after a few years, he will break loose, and the nightmare will begin all over again.