Medical Detox Centers in San Antonio (877) 804-1531
Detoxification, or detox, is the process of abstaining from a harmful substance to remove traces of it from the body. Detoxifying the body is the first step in drug and alcohol treatment.
Medical detox is a detoxification method aimed at alleviating the discomfort and dangerous medical conditions that typically accompany alcohol withdrawal. Widely used and highly effective medical detox centers involve administering medications to control symptoms of withdrawal, attending to nutritional repair, evaluating the patient for other conditions, and assessing the needs of the individual patient for ongoing treatment following the detox process
Types of Medical Detox Centers in San Antonio
Three common types of medical detox include in-patient detox, outpatient detox, and in rare cases, rapid medical detox in an inpatient setting.
In-patient detox is considered to be the most effective addiction treatment method. Comprehensive on-site treatment includes medical detox and continuous, customized care that addresses a wide range of substance abuse and addiction issues. Being away from normal life and its many triggers allows the patient time and space for reflection, meditation, and self-examination with the help of integrated treatment that includes individual, group, and family therapy, wellness and nutrition support, and activities that address the mind, body, and spirit.
Outpatient detox can be effective for those who are committed to recovery and who have a strong support system in place in the "real" world. Outpatient treatment allows the individual to continue meeting commitments to family and work or school. Although it requires more diligence on the part of the patient to abstain from using alcohol, outpatient detox programs provide a strong official support network that includes regular individual and group therapy sessions and family counseling. One distinct benefit of outpatient detox is that individuals can immediately apply to their lives the lessons and strategies they learn.
Rapid medical detox is a controversial medical detoxification process that involves putting the patient under general anesthesia for a couple of days, during which medications are administered to control symptoms. The patient wakes up fully detoxed.
Withdrawal from Alcohol
Alcohol withdrawal can be extremely dangerous. Although not everyone experiences all of the withdrawal symptoms, and the severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe, medical alcohol detox ensures close supervision to prevent or address highly dangerous, and even fatal, conditions that can occur when the body is deprived of alcohol.
The most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:
- Tremors, which typically begin within ten hours after taking the last drink and may include a rapid pulse and breathing, an increase in blood pressure, and severe anxiety.
- Alcohol hallucinations, which usually start within 24 hours after the last drink and are usually comprised of multiple moving objects like dancing insects or falling orbs.
- Alcohol withdrawal seizures, which usually begin within 48 hours after the last drink. It's common to suffer from multiple seizures over the course of just a few hours.
- Delirium tremens, more commonly known as DTs, which causes dangerous shifts in the functions of the body, including breathing, circulation, and core temperature control and is marked by a racing heart, high blood pressure, a temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain, and severe dehydration.
Detoxing at home is highly dangerous, potentially fatal, and should never be attempted.
Medications Used in the Medical Alcohol Detox Process
Medications administered at in-patient medical detox centers in San Antonio or as part of an outpatient treatment program include:
- Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, to alleviate symptoms of withdrawal such as anxiety and insomnia.
- Anticonvulsants to help prevent convulsions and other involuntary movements.
- Beta blockers to help alleviate unpleasant symptoms and to reduce cravings.
Because these medications have the potential for abuse, they're used only for short-term relief and administered under the close supervision of a physician or mental health professional.