Is it Safe to Detox from Alcohol At Home?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is the clinical term for alcohol addiction, can be properly treated with the appropriate professional care, which usually involves a tailored combination of medications and psychotherapy approaches. In order to start the treatment journey for AUD, an individual may need to undergo detoxification, or detox as a way to manage dangerous withdrawal symptoms under professional supervision.¹ 

In this article, we will talk about alcohol detox, including what it consists of, potential withdrawal symptoms, how at-home alcohol detox can be dangerous, and what you can do to ensure that you detox from alcohol safely. 

What is Alcohol Detox?

Detox, as defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a set of interventions designed to manage acute intoxication and withdrawal while toxins, such as alcohol, are cleared from a patient’s body.² During this time, medical professionals and specialists provide patients with comprehensive evaluations and stabilization services (such as medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms), and work to foster their entrance into treatment.² Detox differs from withdrawal in that detox is the intervention used to manage and ease withdrawal.

Medical detox usually occurs in an inpatient setting, such as in a hospital or treatment center, where healthcare providers can monitor the progress of their patients on an around-the-clock basis.³ Professional supervision such as this is key to the detox process, as withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening and patients may require medical attention to manage or prevent them.² 

Detox alone does not address any psychological, social, or behavioral problems related to addiction, therefore does not usually provide a patient with lasting changes that foster continued recovery.^1,2 When detox is followed up with further addiction treatment, however, such as participation in an inpatient or outpatient program, recovery outcomes are typically far more positive and long-lasting.¹ 

Is Alcohol Withdrawal Dangerous?

Yes, alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous,, and the severity of the withdrawal symptoms a patient may experience is usually dependent on a number of factors, such as how often they were consuming alcohol and in what capacity.⁴ Some commonly experienced alcohol withdrawal symptoms tend to include nausea, vomiting, sweating, increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and anxiety, however there exists the possibility for more severe symptoms to develop at this time, including:⁵

• Seizures. Usually between 24-48 hours of one’s last drink, seizures can occur.⁶ These can lead to accidents or falls if unsupervised, and can even be deadly. 
• Dehydration and malnutrition. Dehydration can quickly lead to electrolyte imbalance, which can cause serious complications, including cardiac arrhythmia.⁶ Additionally, malnutrition due to alcohol withdrawal can create vitamin deficiencies that put a patient at risk for developing conditions such as anemia and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.⁶ 
• Delirium Tremens. Also known as the DTs, delirium tremens most often occurs around 48 hours after one’s last drink and has a mortality rate of 5-10%.^6,9 This condition is characterized by symptoms including profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, tremors, and agitation.⁷ It can also create instability in one’s heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing.^7,8 

Without the proper medical interventions and supervision, these and other serious complications of alcohol withdrawal can occur and quickly become both problematic and potentially fatal.

Can You Detox From Alcohol at Home?

At-home detox should never be attempted without professional medical intervention of some kind. And while some studies might suggest that alcohol detox can be done safely at home, the safest option is to detox in an inpatient medical setting where 24/7 care is available. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe a patient with medications to take in an outpatient setting to help ease withdrawal symptoms, however this will greatly depend on their specific situation and overall treatment needs.² Attempting to detox at home and without the clinical guidance provided by a doctor significantly increases the dangerous withdrawal symptoms you may experience, including those that can be life-threatening.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline

The onset of alcohol withdrawal symptoms will vary from person to person, however usually begin within hours of a person’s last drink. After the cessation of alcohol consumption, the onset of alcohol withdrawal symptoms can occur as follows:⁶

• 6-12 hours – Insomnia, mild anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, headache, sweating, heart palpitations
• 12-24 hours – Visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations
• 24-48 hours – Withdrawal seizures (tonic-clonic seizures, otherwise known as grand mal) 
• 48-72 hours – Delirium tremens, including symptoms like disorientation, high heart rate, high blood pressure, hallucinations, fever, and agitation

Get Help for Alcohol Detox

At AAC, we understand how difficult and discouraging alcohol detox can be, which is why we work to ensure that each person who comes to us for this service receives the utmost quality of care and support. Our teams of licensed professionals are experienced in keeping patients comfortable while they detox, as well as helping them transition into the next phase of treatment most appropriate for them. 

Call us right now at to learn more about the detox services we provide and how we can help you or a loved one. 

Start the Recovery Journey

As mentioned before, detox is only one aspect of recovery. To achieve lasting success, additional treatment is needed, such as that offered through professional programming. At AAC, we are proud to provide multiple levels of care, including inpatient addiction treatment and outpatient addiction treatment programs, for those who are ready to take the next step in their journey towards recovery. 

Do not wait any longer to get the help you or a loved one needs. Call us today at to be connected with one of our caring admissions navigators who can help answer all of your questions, including those regarding health insurance coverage for rehab, what to expect from our programming, and much more. All calls are free and are of no-obligation.