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.
It’s a pleasure to have been a client at Cassiobury Court. From the moment I arrived I felt like a welcome part of the family, it’s non judgmental and compassionate approach to recovery has differed from any center which I have previously attended. The structure allowed me to develop at my own pace and to work through my recovery journey, which started with me at an all time low. When I entered I was a shell of a person, after a toxic relationship. My substance misuse and eating disorder was out of control and my health, mental and physical, was deteriorating rapidly. The staff, each with there own expertise and experience guided me compassionately and from a genuine place of kindness and warmth. The facilities, all departments from housekeeping, kitchen to admin and support staff, have made a genuine difference to the person I am leaving as. Strong, rebuilt and confident. Ready to step into a life of sobriety and positivity. I have made life long friends and made life long changes thanks to Cassiobury. I can genuinely recommend Cassiobury, to anyone who has found themselves in the depths of there addiction, they will help you find the path out, however unmanageable life may seem. All my love to the team there and to the clients past, present and future Amy x
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
Where do I even start… This has been my second time in there as a year ago when I was there, I didn’t take the program seriously enough and I just wanted to get clean from drugs but not follow the 12 step program. However after having a few months sobriety, then relapsing as I didn’t do what was suggest to me! I ended up going back for 28 days. Let me tell you, that this experience was a one in a lifetime and I took everything on board, attended all sessions and did exactly what I was told! Every single member of staff at cassiobury go above and beyond for their clients. They put time and effort into all of us and someone is always there for you to talk to day or night. There is a huge range of sessions which you can attend and this give you the knowledge of your addiction. You also have counselling sessions once a week which helps massively🙏🏼 Cassiobury court feels like your home with your family. Leaving today was so tough as I left so many amazing people behind there. However this is the new start of my journey, I have the right tools behind me this time and I would never of been able to do it without cassiobury. Also big up the chiefs there! The food is AMAZING!!!!! I put on over a stone in 4 weeks…I think that says it all! Thank you cassiobury for giving me a new and improved way of living.
I have had serious addiction problems for the last 10 years that have ruined my life and the life of my loved ones. I am in my early 30’s and this was my third time in rehab but my first time staying at Cassiobury Court. The difference between Cassiobury and other facilities is incredible and you can’t compare with the level of support and love. The staff are kind, caring and know exactly what you are going through and what you need to do in order to get better. They have multiple different ways and techniques to support you and go above and beyond in every possible way to help you. Not only do they support you while you’re there but they also support you for the first year you leave with weekly catch up sessions. I have left Cassiobury with a huge network of people in recovery. Before I was lost and alone. I can’t thank Cassiobury enough for giving me another chance at life and I’ll be forever truly grateful ❤️❤️❤️
Cassiobury court takes a special place in my heart for all the help I received. All the staff there are impeccable!! I could not fault it in any way. The managers, key workers, therapists, chefs, doctors, support staff and cleaners make you feel at home. They meet every need and want. I wish to return one day to be able to volunteer or go back and share my story. ❤️
I came into Cassiobury Court after years of trying to stop on my own, after years of abusing myself physically and mentally i finally came in with the willingness to ask for help and that is what i recieved. Although nervous when I first came in i was greeted with an incredibly friendly and supportive team, I was made to feel at ease and given privacy but i also knew help was ready and available when i needed it The workshops, counselling and advice all felt they were tailored to me rather then just being another client and i was encouraged to start seeing the postives of life rather then the negatives, I enjoyed every workshop and the social aspect that came with meeting a group of like minded people and felt that i was being heard and understood. Since leaving i have re started my life and had support from everyone along the way I would highly recommend them. To anyone who feels they may be struggling.
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.
