Alcohol detox is a process that can vary greatly from one person to another. Someone getting ready for rehab, or their family, may wonder “how long does it take to detox from alcohol?”
Note, there is a difference between how long it takes for alcohol to wear off, how long it takes to leave your bloodstream, and how long withdrawal takes. All of these are a part of the detox process.
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How Long Does It Take For Alcohol To Leave Your Blood
The human body metabolizes alcohol at a rate of 20 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) per hour. This isn’t very helpful to most people unless they are good at conversions and math. However, there are BAC, or Blood Alcohol Content charts that help with determining how long it would take for alcohol to leave your blood. Essentially if you are a male with a bodyweight of 160lbs, and you drank 4 standard drinks in the past hour, then your BAC would be 0.09. Additionally, it takes between 40 to 60 minutes for the body to metabolize 1 standard drink. So for 4 drinks, it would take approximately 4 hours for your body to metabolize the alcohol and get your BAC back down to 0.
How Long Does It Take For Alcohol To Wear Off
The effects of alcohol do not necessarily wear off in the same timeframe that the human body metabolizes alcohol. This is because alcohol can have several lingering side effects. For one, it causes dehydration. Without proper water consumption, symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness can last beyond when the body has processed all of the alcohol consumed. Additionally, those who drink heavily to the degree of a physical dependence will actually begin to experience withdrawal symptoms as the effects of alcohol begin to wear off.
Factors That Affect Detox Timelines
Although no one can say exactly how long it will take for an individual to detox from alcohol, there are several factors that can help give a general idea of how long detox will take. These factors include:
- Frequency of Alcohol Use
- How much alcohol is typically consumed
- How long alcohol abuse has occurred
- Biological Sex
- Weight
- History of alcohol detox & treatment
- The presence of co-occurring mental health disorders (ie: depression & anxiety)
- Existing medical conditions
For instance, someone who has been drinking heavily every day for years is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms that are longer and more severe than an individual that drinks about the same amount but has only been drinking for 6 months. Due to biological factors, when looking at a male and female who have a nearly identical past with alcohol, the women may be more likely to have a worse detox experience. Additionally, any mental or physical health issues can add complications that contribute to an extended detox period.
Physical Alcohol Detox
When talking about detoxing from alcohol, withdrawal symptoms are probably what come to mind. From vomiting and chills to seizures and delirium tremons, the physical withdrawal symptoms can be intense. Physical symptoms may begin to develop as early as 6 hours after the last drink, peak after about 48-72 hours, and tapper off until about day 5. However, in severe cases, it can take 10-14 days to physically detox from alcohol.
Emotional/Psychological Alcohol Detox
One thing many people are surprised to learn is that a detox program isn’t just designed to help manage physical detox symptoms, but emotional and psychological ones as well. During detox, there may be a range of emotions that surface. These emotions may include depression, anxiety, fear, a desire to drink (cravings), and many more. A treatment facility provides a safe space to manage these emotions and develop tools to cope with any lingering psychological effects of alcohol detox in the coming months or years.
PAWS
Yes, that’s right, some effects can last for months or years following alcohol detox. This condition is referred to as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. If PAWS is considered a part of the alcohol detox process, then it can be said that it takes up to a year or two to detox from alcohol.
Click here to learn more about PAWS
Regardless of how long it takes to detox from alcohol, Level Up Lake Worth is here to help each and every client from day one and continues to provide care indefinitely through various levels of care and our alumni programs.
FAQs About How Long It Takes to Detox from Alcohol
What exactly happens during the detox process?
Detox is the time your body spends cleaning out all the alcohol from your system so it can learn to work normally again. When someone stops drinking, the brain and body have to adjust to the change. Understanding how long it takes to detox from alcohol helps people prepare for the different physical feelings that come up as the body resets itself back to a healthy state.
What are the first signs that the body is starting to detox?
In the first 6 to 12 hours, the body begins to react because it misses the alcohol. A person might feel shaky, sweaty, or have a bit of an upset stomach. They might also feel very nervous or “on edge.” These early feelings are just the first step in the timeline of how long it takes to detox from alcohol as the cleaning process begins.
When do the most difficult symptoms usually happen?
The most intense part of the process usually happens between 24 and 72 hours after the last drink. During this peak time, a person might have a very fast heartbeat or trouble sleeping. Because this stage can be physically tough, it is the most important part of the journey when tracking how long it takes to detox from alcohol safely under a doctor’s care.
How many days does it take for the body to feel physically better?
For most people, the physical “deep clean” is mostly finished after 5 to 7 days. By the end of a week, the shakes and stomach issues usually go away, and the person starts to feel more steady. Even though everyone is different, a week is a common answer for how long it takes to detox from alcohol before moving on to the next phase of recovery.
Does the brain keep healing after the first week is over?
Yes! Even after the alcohol is physically gone, the brain needs more time to fix its “wiring” so it can feel happy and calm on its own. This emotional healing can last for a few weeks or even months. While the first week handles the physical part, the total time for the brain to fully recover is longer than the initial detox period.
Why is it important to have medical help during this time?
Detoxing can be hard on the heart and the brain, so having a doctor or nurse nearby is the safest way to go. They can give medicine to help with the “shaky” feelings and make sure the body stays strong. Having professional support makes the process much more comfortable and ensures that the person stays safe while their body finishes its work.
