What is an Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detox is the process of getting alcohol out of your system with medical support, diet, exercise and treatment. The best environment for this is in an alcohol detox clinic.
If you feel like you need alcohol to operate and feel normal on a day-to-day basis, you need help, and detoxing is the first step to your recovery.
Going “cold turkey” alone and trying to stop your dependence this way is generally a bad idea and has a low success rate. Going through withdrawal without an appropriate alcohol detox regime and qualified medical supervision can also lead to health issues and even death in more serious cases.
Entering an alcohol detox clinic is the most effective way to get addiction treatment. Clinics are safe spaces with trained medical staff. This means you get a higher level of care than at home.
When it comes to treating alcohol addiction, everybody has slightly different needs. We will create a personalised alcohol detox programme that considers your physical and mental health.
If you or a loved one has an alcohol dependence related problem, it’s important to seek assistance from an alcohol detox center as early as possible.
The earlier you seek assistance, the easier your route to recovery will be.
A good detoxification programme will allow you to lead a happier and healthier life. Many of our patients have gone on to achieve years of sobriety, and you can do the same.
Call us on 0800 118 2892 today to see what our alcohol detox services can do for you. All advice is free.
Our Advantages
- Detox centers across the UK
- World-class addiction experts
- Industry-leading facilities
- Medically assisted detox
- Family support
- Therapy and counselling
- Immediate intervention available
- 12 months aftercare
- Flexible payments – we accept most medical insurance, or we can put together a low-interest and customisable credit plan.
We have detox clinics across the country. If you are looking for alcohol detox centers near me, we offer the widest coverage. See our locations here.
Who Is An Alcohol Detox For?
Alcohol detox is for people addicted to alcohol or people who have a drinking habit (a drinking habit is an early stage of addiction).
Detoxification sounds like a scary process because it means giving up alcohol. Most people’s experiences of giving up alcohol are going “cold turkey” and trying to battle through withdrawal.
The reality is that a medically assisted detox in an alcohol detox clinic will manage your withdrawal symptoms much better. You will be on medication to manage your cravings and sickness. This will reduce the chances of relapse.
Drinking alcohol is considered an acceptable activity and can be part of most social events in the UK. Social drinking is not a problem as long as physical and mental dependence doesn’t arise.
Unfortunately, many drinkers don’t notice when they have become dependent on alcohol. This leads to a downward spiral where you drink more and more to get intoxicated (the human body develops resistance to alcohol, making it harder to get drunk).
Detoxing can strike fear into the heart of someone with a drinking problem, who may think it is easier and less stressful to just continue as they are and face the consequences if and when they come. But do not let fear stop you from a better life.
Your friends, your loved ones and your future are waiting for you to recover. Our alcohol detox services will help you take the next step.
Do I Need An Alcohol Detox?
When you have a drinking problem, going “cold turkey” always results in relapse. We know because we have seen it so many times before.
Alcohol detoxification is necessary when you are addicted to alcohol. Cleansing your body of alcohol is an important step to overcoming addiction. By cleansing your body, you reset your system. This gives you a platform to reach sobriety.
Whether you need a medically assisted detox depends on the extent of your alcohol addiction.
Medication plays an important role in alcohol detox because it reduces cravings and sickness. Some medications can also make you sick when you drink, so you cut down on drinking in a natural way.
There are several treatment options available for alcoholism. When you choose to do your detox with a Serenity alcohol detox clinic, you take part in a personalised detox programme that will manage your withdrawal symptoms.
How Does An Alcohol Detox Work?
When you enter an alcohol detox center, you are committing to a detox programme. This detox programme will get you sober with medicine and support, so the physical, psychological and behavioural sides of addiction are treated.
While you can take withdrawal medication at home, this type of treatment is less effective than clinical treatment. It is less effective because you could go out at any time and buy a drink.
We recommend entering a detox center for alcohol treatment if controlling your drinking is impossible for you. A clinical environment is a safe space where you can be yourself and recover without judgement.
The most asked question when it comes to alcohol detoxing is: how long will detox take?
Detoxing from alcohol begins with a medical exam to determine your overall health. The results of the exam will help shape your personalised detox programme and how long you stay at your alcohol detox clinic.
When an alcoholic stops drinking, they begin to feel the first stages of withdrawal symptoms between 6 and 24 hours later. This process can start while the alcohol is still in your system at a lower level than you are used to but will continue as the alcohol slowly works its way out of your system completely.
These symptoms can last for 7 days or even longer, but they generally hit their worst between 24 and 72 hours after eliminating any alcohol intake.
What Happens During Detox?
As your alcohol detoxification begins, you will be given your first dose of medication and vitamins.
Your withdrawal symptoms will appear within a few hours. We will monitor your health for potential complications. Your withdrawal symptoms will slowly get worse, giving you a desire to drink.
After 48 to 72 hours it will be incredibly tempting to have a drink just to “take the edge off” or make you feel normal again for a short while. This is also the stage where withdrawal symptoms typically peak and is the most dangerous stage of detoxification.
This is why it’s extremely important to have therapy or consultations at this time, to keep you motivated and aware of how your detoxification is coming along. The more help you have, the more likely you are to stick with your detox programme and succeed.
By choosing an alcohol detox clinic for your treatment, you will get the highest standards of care.
After 72-hours, your withdrawal symptoms should become less severe. You may be released from clinical care at this stage, or you may stay with us longer, depending on your circumstances. Most alcohol detox patients stay with us for 7 to 14 days.
The main thing to remember if you’re worried about how long alcohol detoxing takes is that every hour and every day is progress, and the most testing times are usually the most rewarding when you manage to get through them.
We offer full support at all stages of your detox programme, so regardless of whether you’re performing a home detox or you are an inpatient with us, we can offer a wide range of therapy sessions, medication for withdrawal symptoms and general check-ups to ensure the success of your treatment.
How Much Does It Cost To Do a Detox?
Alcohol detox programmes start from as little as £1,000 for a home detox. If you attend an alcohol detox clinic, the price will probably be between £6,000 and £10,000 for a 28-day treatment.
At Serenity, we can help you with alcohol treatment no matter your financial situation.
We accept most medical insurance, and we can put together a low-interest, customised credit plan. This will help you spread the cost of treatment, so you can get all the treatment you need.
The cheapest type of detox is a home detox. This is cheaper because you detox at home. However, it has a lower success rate.
Managing Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can vary wildly depending on how much you are used to drinking and your general health.
Generally, the longer you have been dependent on alcohol, the worse your withdrawal symptoms will be.
For example, someone who has been addicted to alcohol for 20 years will have a rougher time than someone who has been addicted for 6 months.
Thankfully, there are medications we can use to control your withdrawal symptoms. Some medicines replace cravings while others manage sickness or make you sick when you drink alcohol.
Some of the most common symptoms when detoxing from alcohol are:
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Shakes
- Depression and mood swings
- Blood pressure and heart rate changes
- Insomnia
- Itching
- Hallucinations
- Delirium Tremens (a serious and life-threatening condition that can cause confusion, fevers, and even seizures)
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Diarrhoea
- Poor concentration
- Angry episodes
- Fatigue and sleepiness
- A desire to do nothing
- Erratic behaviour
- Seizures – these are the most serious symptoms and are a sign of your brain’s chemistry being altered by the constant presence of alcohol
At Serenity, we have significant experience treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms. We have GP’s to prescribe medication and your detox will be carefully monitored so you get the help you need.
Our alcohol detox centers provide world-class standards of care. You won’t go through your alcohol detox alone – we will do it with you.
The best route to defeating alcohol dependence is through detoxification, therapy sessions and consistent effort. Unfortunately, there isn’t any magic medication that can just end your addiction. But you’ll have your loved ones at your back, and us, for your safe and successful recovery.
Our alcohol detox services extend from medicated detoxification to therapy, family support and teaching you skills to rebuild your life.
Alcohol Detox Treatment
Medications
There are plenty of alcohol detox drugs and medications we can use throughout the rehabilitation process. These tend to be focused on alleviating and reducing the withdrawal symptoms, making the whole process easier to manage and have less of an impact on your body. Below are some of the most common medications for detoxing from alcohol.
Acamprosate
Acamprosate is used to fight the desire to drink and also helps your brain start to regain its correct functions after you have quit drinking. It works by changing the levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is thought to be a part of inducing alcohol cravings.
Acamprosate can be prescribed when you start having withdrawal symptoms and for up to 6 months afterwards, helping the recovery process go more smoothly.
Disulfiram
Disulfiram is another drug used to fight the desire to relapse. While it doesn’t have any direct effect on your brain function or directly reduce alcohol cravings, this drug works by causing negative and unwanted side effects when combined with alcohol.
If you drink while taking Disulfiram, you are likely to experience flushes, nausea, headaches, low blood pressure, feelings of weakness, chest pain, vomiting and more. You even need to avoid other things that contain alcohol for example paint strippers, mouthwashes and some perfumes.
Disulfiram works by creating an association in your mind between alcohol and the feelings you get when drinking on the medication, deterring you from wanting to drink.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone blocks the opioid receptors in your body, stopping alcohol from having any effect. By doing this it helps fight cravings and prevent relapses since if you do drink you feel little to no benefit.
It is worth being cautious with naltrexone, however, as it does have the same effect on all opioids, stopping painkillers like codeine and morphine. It can also stimulate and exacerbate withdrawal symptoms, so it is best to detox for a week to ten days before taking naltrexone as opposed to taking it immediately on stopping drinking.
Benzodiazepines
Benzos such as diazepam or chlordiazepoxide are often used to calm the nervous system and fight related symptoms such as anxiety, shakes, insomnia and more.
Diet
Associated nausea with alcohol dependence can make food the last thing you want to think about. Despite this, alcohol has a major effect on your metabolism and the way nutrients are taken into your body, meaning your alcohol detox diet is a crucial part of recovering as well and as quickly as you possibly can.
Here are some dietary tips that can help you with recovery at an alcohol detox clinic:
Prioritise Water
A simple pointer, but probably more important than you realise. Since alcohol dehydrates you, chances are you need to drink a lot of water anyway to rehydrate and overcome the damage caused by your time drinking, but water can also help flush out the toxins from your body and speed up the detox process.
Vitamins & Minerals
During the early stages of detoxing, you can find it difficult to eat at all due to nausea and generally feeling rough. Vitamin and mineral supplements can help your body get what it needs at this stage, with vitamin B1 being the most important.
Vitamin B1 helps your body process glucose for energy, and a lack of it can cause serious brain conditions, so a supplement can help negate the losses when you are struggling with food.
Alcohol, in general, makes it harder for your body to absorb vitamins and minerals, so taking them when you stop drinking will help your health improve much more quickly.
Back to Basics
Since alcohol has such a negative effect on metabolism and absorbing nutrients, even if you consistently ate well while drinking, you will need to eat as well as possible while detoxing and afterwards.
Lean protein, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy are all good options and will help you get your energy and vitality back as quickly as possible.
Activities
We have seen first-hand how staying productive helps people overcome addiction.
When you stay at one of our alcohol detox clinics, you will get to take part in a variety of activities with other patients, so your stay is enjoyable.
Walking
Walking is a low-impact activity that improves fitness, health and mental wellbeing. We host daily walking sessions to get you outside. You will be free to explore the private grounds of your detox center and we may also plan excursions further afield.
Painting
Painting is good for you because it boosts self-esteem and confidence. It is a relaxing activity that taps into the creative side of your brain. This activity teaches patience – an important virtue for getting through your detox and achieving sobriety.
Fitness
We recommend working on your fitness while you detox. Many of our alcohol detox clinics have a gym and fitness equipment. You can also get a personal trainer to help you get fitter. Fitness is important for beating addiction because it gives you self pride and goals to work towards.
Unique Clinic Facilities
Our detox centers provide the safest environment for your detox. You will be looked after by trained nurses and take part in weekly therapies.
All our clinics have the following staff:
- Dedicated GP
- Consultant psychiatrist
- Clinical psychologist
- Psychotherapists
- BACP accredited nurses
You will stay in comfortable accommodation with a private bedroom and an en-suite bathroom.
We provide laundry services and cooking, so you don’t need to worry about anything during your stay. Your meals will be provided, and we will create a diet plan so you can build up your strength.
We have significant experience helping people with mental health problems. Our mental health facilities are equipped to treat:
- PTSD
- OCD
- Self-harm
- Bipolar
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
This expertise ensures all our patients receive the right standard of care during detox.
We want your detox to be as stressless as possible, so we offer a variety of additional services. You could hire a personal trainer to work on your fitness, or we can assign a mentor to help you with life skills.
Following the successful completion of your alcohol detox, your alcohol detox center will stay in touch. You will also have a support network around you.
If you want to find an alcohol detox clinic near me, you can view our clinic locations here.
Book a Free Tour of a Detox Centre Near You
If you are looking for a medical alcohol detox near me, we offer free tours of our facilities.
A free tour will give you a sample of what you can expect during your stay with us. You will also have the opportunity to discuss treatment options.
If you believe you may need inpatient treatment, you can also schedule a tour of our facilities to see what facilities are available at your local centre.
For more information on how we can help you, feel free to call us now on 0800 118 2892 for free advice and guidance on alcohol detox in the UK.
Home Detox vs Clinic Detox
Home detox
For mild alcoholics with a safe home environment and no mental health issues, a home detox can often be all that is needed to kick the habit.
Our Home Detox programme is carried out by you at home, but you will need to visit us sometimes during the day for treatment. You will need to check in with us every day so we can monitor you.
With a home detox, we are available 24/7 for any advice, counselling or help you need. We will provide support as and when you need it.
Because a home detox puts the detox experience in your hands, you are in control. You need to be able to stop yourself from having a drink.
Home detox programmes have a lower success rate than programmes in alcohol detox clinics. There are a few reasons for this. The main reason is detoxing at home does not take the patient away from the environment that fosters addiction.
Clinic detox
Our inpatient detox programme is far more serious and urgent for alcohol dependency issues.
By choosing to detox in an alcohol detox center, you are committing to an extensive rehab process that goes beyond medication and withdrawal.
You will have 24/7 support in a relaxed and professional environment designed to maximise the help you receive while reducing stress and allowing you to get the best possible treatment available.
This can last a week or two when immediate progress is made, or up to three months for the most serious issues and people who have struggled with relapsing before. There are also options for a patient to alcohol detox in a hospital, but this is rarer.
Regardless of whether you detox at home with us or come to one of our rehab centres, the process will begin with a free consultation. This allows us to learn about your general health, drinking habits, do some tests including blood tests, and discuss which of our treatment options can work best for you.
This is free of charge and obligation-free, and you can also have a free tour of one of our rehab centres to check out our top of the range facilities, so call us now on 0800 118 2892 to see what we can do for you!
We also offer full support at all stages of your detox with a variety of alcohol detox services. So, whether you’re at home or an inpatient with us, we can offer a wide range of therapy sessions, medication for withdrawal symptoms and general check-ups to make sure everything is going well.
If you have a drug problem, you may consider drug rehab or drug detox – you can read more about at home drug detox methods.
What we offer at Serenity Health
Serenity offers comprehensive detox programmes designed by medical experts.
Our experts are leaders in their fields with decades of experience. We not only treat alcoholism but research and develop new treatment methods.
None of the detox and alcoholism treatments we offer are experimental – all of them are backed by research and science. This means you will always get treatments that are proven to work.
We have a track record of helping patients achieve long-term sobriety. Many of our patients have gone on to stay sober for 12-months or more.
With Serenity, you get:
- Long-term support
- Proven treatment methods
- Access to world-class doctors
- Expert therapy and counselling
Serenity Health offers an alcohol detox programme that aims to set individuals up for success. Choose an alcohol detox clinic run by us and you will receive the highest standards of treatment and care.
Primarily focusing on how we can help to make recovery easier and less intimidating for you, we do everything within our power to ensure that we are approachable, expert, and exceptionally good at what we do so that you get the best results.
Our focus is on delivering a service that works. With all of our team experienced in managing and supporting your withdrawal from alcohol, we make certain that you have the professional support network you need when it’s most important.
We know that recovery doesn’t always wait and that an extended period between recognising your problem and receiving treatment is not conducive to helping you get better. All it does is allow doubt and uncertainty to set in, rather than allowing you to tackle your alcoholism head-on.
That’s why we accept urgent admissions at their earliest convenience. Here to help, we can begin your detox programme immediately, so that you’re on the road to recovery before you have time to relapse into negative patterns of behaviour.
Employing an expert team who want nothing more than to assist you in your return to sobriety, we make sure that you have not just the physical expertise you require to make your transition easier, but also the psychological support necessary to identify, modify, and manage your alcoholism in the future. All this is overseen by the world’s renowned addiction specialists at Harley Street.
Providing detox clinics both in the UK and globally, Serenity Health ensures that help is always close at hand for those in need of advice or assistance, so they can kick their habit and build a brighter tomorrow.
