Can You Safely Detox From Alcohol At Home?

You should never try to detox from alcohol without the help of medical professionals. If you need to be at home while detoxing from alcohol, you should look into outpatient detox programs.

Outpatient detox for alcohol means you get medical advice and still visit a detox center for a short time every day. However, you get to go home each day and carry out most of the process there.

Outpatient detox is only appropriate for people with strong support from family members and loved ones at home and mild alcohol use disorders without a long history of alcohol addiction.

It is also only for people who are likely to experience mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Managing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms At Home

Alcohol detoxification is the process of managing withdrawal symptoms. It is only possible to do this safely at home when withdrawal symptoms are mild.

Sometimes, the side effects of withdrawal are serious or even life-threatening.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is usually more severe when someone has a very strong alcohol dependence. This means their alcohol consumption has been high for a long time.

Other factors that can make severe withdrawal symptoms more likely include existing health problems and medical conditions, other substance use issues, and old age.

Severe withdrawal symptoms may include:

• alcohol-induced high blood pressure
• fast heart rate
• seizures
• tremors
• hallucinations
• delirium tremens (DTs)

Dangers Of At-Home Alcohol Detox

At-home alcohol detox is more dangerous than visiting an inpatient rehab center for detox.

If you try to “self-detox” without the guidance of healthcare professionals in an outpatient program, this is even riskier.

Most people experience strong cravings during withdrawal after prolonged alcohol abuse. One of the main dangers of at-home detox is that relapse is much more likely.

Another danger of at-home detox is that without medical supervision, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can take a toll on the body and lead to serious side effects, including delirium tremens.

What To Eat During Alcohol Detox At Home

If you are doing an outpatient detox program, you should support your body by eating a healthy diet and taking some vitamins and supplements.

Vitamins To Use While Detoxing From Alcohol

The following vitamins are known to be helpful during the detox process:

• vitamin A
• vitamin C
• B vitamins
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• calcium
• zinc
• electrolytes

Drinking alcohol too much is known to cause deficiencies of several key vitamins and minerals, including those listed above. Taking these vitamins during detox helps to bring the body back into balance.

Find out more about the best supplements for alcohol detox.

Foods To Eat While Detoxing From Alcohol

Nutrition is also very important during alcohol detox, as alcohol dependency can create nutritional deficiencies.

The following foods support the body during detox:

• fruits and vegetables
• lean proteins
• omega-3 fatty acids
• foods high in vitamin B
• probiotic foods

Learn more about the best foods for alcohol detox.

Why Detoxing In A Medically Monitored Program Is Safer

Whenever possible, you should visit an addiction treatment center that offers inpatient detox programs. Inpatient detox is much safer than detoxing at home.

One of the main reasons to visit a detox center is relapse prevention.

Relapse during withdrawal is extremely common because the symptoms are so uncomfortable. Withdrawal acts as a barrier between alcohol addiction and recovery.

The second main reason why detox at an inpatient treatment facility is safer is that withdrawal symptoms can pose serious health risks.

Severe dehydration, seizures, hallucinations, and intense vomiting are just a few of the symptoms that are possible during alcohol withdrawal.

Think of withdrawal as being very sick, with the possibility of your condition worsening and becoming life-threatening. You’ll want to be in a hospital environment during this process.

Find out more about inpatient alcohol detox.

Treatment For Alcohol Addiction After Completing Detox

Alcohol addiction treatment options include interventions such as therapy, support groups, medication, and healthy lifestyle activities like yoga, art, and meditation.

Inpatient alcohol treatment is the best place to get clean and remember how to live without alcohol in your life.

Find Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder

Bedrock Recovery Center is a state-of-the-art inpatient detox and rehab center located in Canton, MA.

We offer treatment programs for alcohol abuse for everyone from young adults to older individuals.

Our mission is to help our clients remember how to live a sober life, and to set them up for long-term success via strong foundational skills and aftercare planning.

Ready to start your journey to recovery? Call our helpline today.