Overview
If you drink alcohol regularly and then suddenly stop, you may go through some physical and emotional problems while the alcohol clears out of your system. Clearing the alcohol from your body is called detoxification, or detox. Physical and emotional problems that may happen during detox are called withdrawal.
Symptoms of withdrawal can be uncomfortable. Mild symptoms include nausea and vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and intense worry. Severe symptoms include being confused and irritable, feeling things on your body that are not there, seeing or hearing things that are not there, and trembling. You may even have seizures. If your symptoms become severe, see a doctor right away. People who drink large amounts of alcohol should not try to detox at home. A person can die of severe alcohol withdrawal.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may start a few hours after you stop drinking. Or they may not start until a few days after the last drink. They can last a few weeks.
It is hard to stop drinking. But when you have cleared the alcohol from your system, you will be able to start the next part of your life.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
- Before you stop drinking, talk to your doctor about how you plan to stop. Be sure to be completely honest with the doctor about how much you have been drinking. Your doctor will figure out whether you need to detox in a supervised medical centre.
- Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
- Make sure someone you trust is with you as much as possible. Have friends and family members take turns staying with you until you are done with detox.
- Keep a list of emergency numbers. Include your doctor, the nearest hospital and emergency room, and neighbours who can help if needed.
- Make sure all alcohol is removed from the home before you start. This includes beverages as well as medicines, rubbing alcohol, and certain flavourings like vanilla extract.
- Avoid spending time with people you used to drink with while you are going through detox.
- Make your surroundings calm. Soft lights, soft music, and a comfortable place to sit or lie down can help make the process easier.
- Drink lots of fluids and eat snacks such as fruit, cheese and crackers, and pretzels. Foods high in carbohydrates may help reduce the craving for alcohol.
- Understand that detox is going to be hard.
- Keep in mind that the people watching over you during detox are there to help. Explain to them before you start that you may not act like yourself until detox is finished.
- Consider joining a support group such as LifeRing or Alcoholics Anonymous. Sharing your experiences with other people who face similar challenges may help you feel less overwhelmed.
Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you or someone you know talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away.
- Call or text Canada's suicide and crisis hotline at 988.
- Call Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 (4 p.m. to midnight ET).
- Kids or teens can call Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
- Go to the Talk Suicide Canada website at https://talksuicide.ca or the Kids Help Phone website at https://kidshelpphone.ca for more information.
Consider saving these numbers in your phone.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter D051 in the search box to learn more about "Alcohol Detoxification and Withdrawal: Care Instructions".
