Clinically Reviewed by
Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner)
All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Last Reviewed: 2nd February 2023
At Cassiobury Court, we provide professional alcohol detoxification directly from our rehabilitation centre. Here our inpatients are monitored through the detox period with medical support providing constant supervision throughout the process.
Alcohol detox is the process of eliminating alcohol from the body. If you want to quit drinking, this is typically the first step in treating your alcohol dependence.
When you stop drinking alcohol, depending on the severity of your addiction you will also face some side effects. These can range from mild side effects like nausea and insomnia to more severe side effects such as tremors, palpitations and delirium tremens.
For alcoholics, detoxification is a necessary step if they wish to quit drinking for good. If you want to speak to one of our detox nurses and ask any questions you can call us on 01923 369 161 or text HELP To 83222.
The severity of physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms can vary significantly depending on the person, how deep their addiction is and also their overall health.
Symptoms can range from mild discomfort, such as headaches and nausea, to more severe and life-threatening conditions like fitting and delirium tremens (DTs).
DTs can cause confusion, hallucinations, and even cardiovascular collapse in the most extreme of cases. These symptoms typically peak within a few days after the last drink and will lessen over time. Due to the potential risks, medical supervision during detox is crucial to ensure safety and effective symptom management.
Moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
Alcohol detox isn’t pleasant, we won’t sugarcoat it but – it can certainly be managed much more effectively with our help. So that you know what to expect in some capacity, this is the typical timeline of an alcohol detox and some of the withdrawal symptoms you may experience.
Day 1-2: Withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 6-24 hours after you stop drinking. Early symptoms may include, but aren’t limited to, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and sweating. In severe cases, individuals may experience hallucinations.
Day 3-5: This is often considered the peak of withdrawal symptoms. During this period, individuals may experience more severe symptoms such as tremors (known as alcohol shakes), increased heart rate, high blood pressure, confusion, irritability, and in some cases, seizures (known as alcohol withdrawal seizures).
Day 6-7: By this point, the acute withdrawal symptoms usually begin to subside. However, some individuals may continue to experience milder symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, and insomnia.
Week 2-4: During this stage, the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to improve significantly. However, psychological symptoms such as depression, irritability, and cravings may persist. Sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating can also continue.
Once the first month is through, recovery from alcohol addiction is an ongoing process. The intensity and frequency of cravings may be reduced further, but some individuals may still experience occasional triggers or cravings. Long-term recovery often involves therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes to maintain sobriety.
I have recently completed a 28 day stay at Cassiobury Court (CC) Rehabilitation Facility. I walked up to the gates of CC in total despair. I was a broken man. A man with no purpose in life. I had been drinking for 31 years. I had lost everything – family, friends, job, houses, cars and I hated myself with a passion! I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. All because of the dreaded disease called ALCOHOL! I wasn’t living, just merely existing! I came to realise that I was unable to beat my addiction on my own. I had no choice but to surrender and ask for help. I hadn’t asked anyone for help in all my life – my ego and pride when drinking was just too big! I needed help from CC and the staff certainly delivered on all levels. My stay at CC was very enlightening – a phenomenal experience! The best decision I have ever made in my life! A very humbling experience. The staff at CC are all very loving, caring and willing to help their clients to succeed. It’s like they do what they do because they genuinely want to support you and save your life from addiction. They all treat you with the utmost respect and all are willing to meet your specific needs. Nothing is too much trouble for them. I cannot praise the staff at CC enough for all the love, care support and help they give to every client; Management, Therapists, Key Workers, Kitchen Staff, Housekeeping and Maintenance. The staff all treat you as an equal and I now regard them all as family – “My CC family!”. The group sessions are taken by Therapists and Key Workers who all conduct themselves in a very professional manner. The daily schedule is very structured. The staff who run these sessions all have great expertise and experience to help you on your journey to recovery. I have certainly left CC with the tools I need to sustain many happy and sober years ahead of me. I am eternally grateful to them for giving me this opportunity! The setting of CC is one of tranquility. It is in very peaceful surroundings. The is a lovely courtyard/gardens available for clients and staff to use at their leisure. The rooms and communal areas are all well maintained. The food is outstanding and fully trained staff are available for all you medical, dietry and general requirements. My overall experience of CC is sensational! I highly recommend that if you are suffering from addiction and want the best opportunity to rebuild your life and future, then your journey to recovery should start at CC. My love and best wishes to all at CC.
A superb venue for anyone who would like to begin the real journey of recovery from addiction. Every single member of staff cares and they cannot do enough with an always cheerful approach and outlook. This was my third visit to different Rehabs and this one has made by far the most difference. The therapy is second to none and the food is outstanding. Highly recommended.
I’ve very recently attended the Cassiobury Court rehab facility and highly recommend the services provided. Set in a quiet location with enclosed courtyard the bedrooms, tutorial rooms and dining rooms are well maintained, impeccably clean and mostly modern internally The biggest plus is the wealth of experience and quality of counsellors, tutors and many of the supporting staff who themselves are recovering alcoholics/ addicts. Conducted in a structured but relaxed atmosphere the breadth and depth of tuition and counselling is such that it stimulates the open, positive participation of Clients whilst always being supportive of both the group and the individual. This is greatly enhanced with the attendance of local ‘live’ external CA meetings, zoom meetings and visiting ‘shares’ from recovering addicts. With superb catering and even a washing and cleaning service included It’s an experience that bettered my expectations and was great fun also.
As good as it gets for rehab. The staff are hard-working and caring. You get a nice blend of help and social (sober) interaction. They allow as much freedom as you can handle and mix a healthy blend of learning with the freedom to do as you please and not force any narratives.
Just completed 28 days at Cassiobury Court and I am pleased to say it has been a positive experience. I have received compassionate expert care from the staff team here who have an in-depth knowledge of addiction. My key workers have been an inspiration and have been by my side every step of the way providing a range of interventions to help me work through my addiction issues. I have been treated with kindness, privacy, dignity and respect. I leave having gained confidence and the power to succeed. Thank you to all at Cassiobury court.
I needed to be separated from alcohol and initially booked in for a two week alcohol detox. A couple of days in however i knew i was in a good 12 step based rehab. I decided then another 2 weeks was necessary to get a good solid start for my recovery journey. I have experience of a 12 step program, it had worked for me for some years prior. Cassiobury Ct had a good, varied program. I learnt so much more about myself and addiction. The staff were all compassionate and knowledgeable. Many had been where i was. I felt safe in CC. I was fortunate to be surrounded by very supportive peers, we cried together and we laughed together. I walked in feeling such a failure , since leaving i have held my head high. Thank you for the love CC when I struggled to love myself. Cathy R
Alcohol detox, as you’ll now be aware can be intimidating and to stop drinking, it is simply something that must be done. But, we are here to put your mind at ease and to show you why you have the capability to overcome the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol and live a sober life.
We help you do this by administering prescription medication during your alcohol detox to ease withdrawal symptoms and help you through the most significant stage of addiction treatment. These will help suppress the overwhelming alcohol cravings and put severe reactions at bay as much as possible.
Some medications include, but aren’t limited to:
These can help you to detox from alcohol in a way that won’t feel as overwhelming. Don’t forget that during your addiction treatment you’ll always be assisted by a medical professional whose expertise lie in treating alcoholism and substance misuse.
Most alcoholics will experience ‘withdrawal symptoms’ when quitting alcohol, whether it be mild symptoms or severe withdrawal symptoms, which is why being within the care of medical professionals is the safest place to be.
Due to the effects of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms being potentially life-threatening, it is strongly advised that medical supervision is given throughout the duration of alcohol withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms vary, particularly if the alcohol addiction is alongside a drug addiction too. For this reason, during admission into Cassiobury Court, you receive a psychiatric examination to determine whether you are in the correct mental state to undertake detoxification as the process can be quite distressing to some individuals.
Prescription medications can be provided during alcohol detox, this is dependent on the severity of your physical or physiological state during the withdrawal phase. We will talk some more about how we administer medication to ease these withdrawal symptoms next.
Attempting an alcohol detox at home can be tough, the lack of professional support can make it difficult to manage your cravings and the psychological stress of detox, increases the likelihood of relapse. Medical supervision provides a safer environment, with access to medications and support to ease the process and address any complications that arise.
If you do choose to detox at home, you should consult your GP beforehand and have a support system in place. This can include close monitoring by a family member or friend and access to emergency medical care. The home environment should be safe, quiet, and free of any form of alcohol. You also need to identify triggers that could make the process more challenging. If you drink after a stressful day at work, when attempting your home detox you should book some time off so you do not have any environmental issues causing you stress at this time.
While home detox may seem like a convenient or private option, the potential risks can outweigh the benefits, making a medically supervised detox the safer and more effective choice.
As we offer private alcohol detox and rehab treatment, admissions into our clinic can be fast with no long waiting lists.
We provide rehabilitation over a period of four weeks in a residential environment, although shorter stays can be offered.
Residential treatment is the most widely recommended method for treating alcohol addictions. We strongly believe that treating you away from your home environment helps to fully address any issues that may be contributing to the addiction you are battling. In turn, once you go home you are able to approach life with a new attitude. You are also equipped with the skills needed to remain in recovery for the rest of your life.
Treatment methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy and one to one counselling are utilised as a part of the alcohol rehab process upon successful completion of alcohol detox.
These methods help give you the best possible chance of recovery with no exceptions as they aim to mentally prepare your mind to notice any potential triggers and how best to deal with them to prevent any risk of a relapse. Our trained specialists are available to treat the cause of your addiction as well as the symptoms.
Alongside your alcohol detox and rehab treatment, we also provide an onsite chef who will prepare your food throughout the day and a laundry service. This ensures that everything is taken care of so you are able to focus all efforts on tackling alcohol addiction with complete focus.
Fortunately, Cassiobury Court offers comprehensive alcohol detox as the first stage of an alcohol rehab programme. Before embarking on a range of therapies and a comprehensive rehab programme, a detox from alcohol will be the first step.
Opting for an alcohol detoxification within a rehab is the safest option, it ensures that your symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are managed with the right team around you. This kind of assistance within a rehab like Cassiobury Court is often referred to as a ‘medically assisted alcohol detox’ so what does this actually mean?
To find out more about alcohol detox and withdrawal as well as our full rehabilitation programmes, contact us on 01923 369 161. We will talk you through our different treatment options and make you feel at ease about your alcohol dependency – we have been providing medically assisted detox and withdrawals for substance abuse disorders for almost a decade and know how to make you feel comfortable about them.
If you quit drinking after prolonged alcohol abuse, it will be unlikely that you won't experience any of these withdrawal symptoms as part of detox.
These symptoms can be divided into two different categories:
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms:
Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms:
Delirium Tremens is defined as a psychotic condition typical of withdrawal in chronic alcoholics, involving tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and disorientation.
Common symptoms which are associated with DTs include:
Yes it is rare, but Delirium Tremens can be fatal.
This is why it is important to undergo detox in a medically supervised environment, as detoxing from alcohol without supervision can be dangerous.
Usually this is not possible. If your body has been dependent on alcohol for a while then you will almost certainly experience withdrawal symptoms when undertaking detox.
Symptoms from a substance abuse detox normally peak by 24 hours to 48 hours – but if you are a heavy drinker – usually, it will take 7 to 10 days to fully detox from alcohol. The detox process usually varies depending on the drinker.
John Gillen is a leading addiction treatment expert with over 15 years of experience providing evidence-based treatment methods for individuals throughout the UK. John also co-authors the book, The Secret Disease of Addiction, which delves into how the addictive mind works and what treatment techniques work best.
Dr. Olalekan Otulana MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, DFSRH, FRSPH, MBA (Cantab)
Dr Otulana is a highly experienced GP and Addiction Physician. He has a specialist interest in Substance Misuse Management and he has a wide range of experience in the assessment, management (including detoxification) and residential rehabilitation of clients with various drug and substance addiction problems. His main aim is to comprehensively assess patients with addiction problems and determine their treatment needs for medical detoxification treatments and psychological interventions. He is also experienced in managing patients who require dual drug and alcohol detoxification treatments.
A strong healthcare services professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School.
