How Long Does It Take To Detox From Alcohol? Timeline And More

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HealthlineSubscribeHow Long Can It Take to Detox from Alcohol?

Medically reviewed by Alyssa Peckham, PharmD, BCPP — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on July 6, 2022

Withdrawal symptoms
Treatments
Timeline
Other factors
How to get help
Takeaway

Many people stop experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms four to five days after their last drink. Symptoms tend to be at their worst around the third day.

If you make the decision to stop drinking daily and heavily, you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms. The time it takes to detox depends on a few factors, including how much you drink, how long you’ve been drinking, and whether you’ve experienced alcohol withdrawal before.

Most people stop having withdrawal symptoms four to five days after their last drink.

Read on to learn more about what time frame to expect when detoxing from alcohol.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system. This causes feelings of relaxation and euphoria. Because the body usually works to maintain balance, it will signal the brain to make more neurotransmitter receptors that excite or stimulate the central nervous system.

When you stop drinking, you take away alcohol not only from the receptors you originally had but also from the additional receptors your body made. As a result, your nervous system is overactive. This causes symptoms such as:

anxiety
irritability
nausea
rapid heart rate
sweating
tremors

In severe instances, you may experience delirium tremens (DTs) or alcohol withdrawal delirium. Symptoms doctors associate with DTs include:

hallucinations
high body temperature
illusions
paranoia
seizures

These are the most severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol withdrawal treatments

To assess a person’s withdrawal symptoms and recommend treatments, doctors often use a scale called the Clinical Institute for Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol. The higher the number, the worse a person’s symptoms are and the more treatments they likely need.

You may not need any medications for alcohol withdrawal. You can still pursue therapy and support groups as you go through withdrawal.

You may need medications if you have moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms. Examples of these include:

Benzodiazepines. Doctors prescribe these medicines to reduce the likelihood of seizures during alcohol withdrawal. Examples include diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan). Doctors often choose these drugs to treat alcohol withdrawal.
Neuroleptic medications. These medications can help depress nervous system activity and may be helpful in preventing seizures and agitation associated with alcohol withdrawal.
Nutritional support. Doctors may administer nutrients such as folic acid, thiamine, and magnesium to reduce withdrawal symptoms and to correct nutrient deficiencies caused by alcohol use.

Doctors may prescribe other medications to treat withdrawal-related symptoms. One example is a beta-blocker (such as propranolol) to reduce high blood pressure.

Once the immediate withdrawal symptoms have passed, a doctor may prescribe medicines to reduce the likelihood that a person will start drinking again. Examples that are FDA-approved include:

naltrexone (ReVia). Naltrexone can reduce alcohol cravings and help a person maintain their abstinence from alcohol by blocking opioid (feel-good) receptors in their body.
disulfiram (Antabuse). This medication can reduce alcohol cravings and makes a person feel very ill if they drink while taking it.

A doctor may discuss these and other medicines with you. You can choose to use these along with therapy and support groups to help you maintain your sobriety.

Alcohol withdrawal timeline

According to a study, the following are general guidelines about when you can expect to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms:

6 hours

Minor withdrawal symptoms usually begin about six hours after your last drink. A person who has a long history of heavy drinking could have a seizure six hours after stopping drinking.

12 to 24 hours

A small percentage of people going through alcohol withdrawal have hallucinations at this point. They may hear or see things that aren’t there.

24 to 48 hours

Minor withdrawal symptoms usually continue during this time. These symptoms may include headache, tremors, and stomach upset. If a person goes through only minor withdrawal, their symptoms usually peak at 18 to 24 hours and start to decrease after four to five days.

48 hours to 72 hours

Some people experience a severe form of alcohol withdrawal known as DTs. A person with this condition can have a very high heart rate, seizures, or a high body temperature.

72 hours

This is the time when alcohol withdrawal symptoms are usually at their worst. In rare cases, moderate withdrawal symptoms can last for a month. These include rapid heart rate and illusions (seeing things that aren’t there).

Other factors

According to a 2015 article, an estimated 50 percent of people with an alcohol use disorder go through withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. Doctors estimate that 3 to 5 percent of people will have severe symptoms.

Multiple factors can affect how long it may take you to withdraw from alcohol. A doctor will consider all these factors when estimating how long-lasting and how severe your symptoms may be.

Risk factors for DTs include:

abnormal liver function
history of DTs
history of seizures with alcohol withdrawals
low platelet counts
low potassium levels
low sodium levels
older age at the time of withdrawal
preexisting dehydration
presence of brain lesions
use of other drugs

If you have any of these risk factors, it’s important that you withdraw from alcohol at a medical facility that’s equipped to prevent and treat alcohol-related complications.

How to get help

If your drinking makes you feel out of control and you are ready to seek help, many organizations can assist you.

Where to start:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP
This helpline provides around-the-clock support for individuals and their family members struggling with substance abuse.
Helpline operators can help you find a treatment facility, therapist, support group, or other resources to stop drinking.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also offers an Alcohol Treatment Navigator tool that can help you find the right treatments for you that are close to home.

Other online resources that offer well-researched information and support include:

Alcoholics Anonymous
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Your primary care provider can advise you on where to seek care for the physical and mental symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It’s very important to seek help if you struggle with alcohol use disorder. It is possible to get treatment and live a healthier life with a better relationship with alcohol.

In fact, an estimated one-third of people who receive treatment for alcohol issues are sober one year later, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

In addition to the sober individuals, many people among the remaining two-thirds are also drinking less and experiencing fewer alcohol-related health problems after one year.

The bottom line

If you are concerned about potential alcohol withdrawal symptoms, talk to your doctor. A doctor can evaluate your overall health and alcohol abuse history to help you determine how likely it is that you’ll experience symptoms.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

DeSimone E, et al. (2014). Treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/treatment-of-alcohol-withdrawal-syndrome
Kattimani S, et al. (2013). Clinical management of alcohol withdrawal: a systematic review.http://doi.org/10.4103%2F0972-6748.132914
Muncie HL, et al. (2013). Outpatient management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/1101/p589.html
Newman R, et al. (2021). Alcohol withdrawal.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/
Rolland B, et al. (2015). Pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence: The 2015 recommendations of the French Alcohol Society, issued in partnership with the European Federation of Addiction Societies.https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.12489
Schuckit, MA. (2015). Recognition and management of withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens).https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4jm2h3bx
Treatment for alcohol problems: Finding and getting help. (2014).https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help

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Medically reviewed by Alyssa Peckham, PharmD, BCPP — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on July 6, 2022

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