Alcoholism is a disease characterised by continuous heavy drinking. Until people with alcohol use disorder admit to problems with alcohol and stop drinking, the risk of alcohol use disorder continues which affects both physical and mental health.
Alcohol starts to injure the brain once it reaches the bloodstream.
Excessive consumption can lead to Alcohol-Related Brain Damage, or ARBD, which is a type of brain disorder caused by alcohol consumption. Brain shrinkage caused by alcohol abuse is permanent, as alcohol kills brain cells and grey matter.
For more information and effects click ‘Learn More’.
Every month, we bring you an unfiltered recovery conversation with someone who’s either experienced addiction firsthand, or works closely with those in recovery.
No sanitised success stories – just practical insights on what actually works in recovery, that you can apply, in your life too.
Recovery capital is the internal and external resource used to begin the recovery process and maintain sobriety. This combines personal, social, and community support to provide a joined-up approach that supports the addict through recovery.
Do you or a loved one need addiction treatment for alcohol or drugs? Thousands blindly walk into addiction treatment in expensive rehab centres and find that the reality doesn’t meet expectations.
If you’re considering rehab treatment, first check our ultimate guide for complete instructions on how to find the right rehab centre for you.
Take-home Naloxone kits help families and loved ones respond quickly in an opioid overdose emergency, until emergency services arrive. Kits contain nasal or injectable forms of Naloxone.
Changes in legislation mean Naloxone kits are now more widely available from pharmacies and drug services, including Abbeycare.
For additional information, click ‘Learn More’ below.
Overcoming alcohol addiction means first ceasing alcohol intake, and taking care of physical and chemical withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxing from alcohol means undergoing withdrawal from alcohol, but with the assistance of prescribed medication and detox phase, to substitute in place of the alcohol itself.
Alcohol rehab focuses on tackling the problems underneath alcoholism, such as grief, trauma, depression, and emotional difficulties, in order to reduce continuing drinking after treatment.
Inpatient services at an alcohol rehab programme provides 24 hour access to specialist care.
Alcohol home detox provides a means of semi-supervised addiction treatment in the comfort of your home. It’s often suitable for those with inescapable practical commitments, or where a reduced budget for treatment is available.
An at-home detox is the most basic detox option available from Abbeycare, and assumes you have support available, post-detox, for the other important elements of long-term addiction recovery.
The term alcoholism refers to the consumption of alcohol to the extent that the person is unable to manage their own drinking habits or patterns, resulting in side-effects that are detrimental to the quality of life and health of the alcoholic, or those around them.
An alcoholic is someone who continues to compulsively abuse alcohol in this way, despite the negative consequences to their lives and health.
Immediately following treatment, the early stages of recovery and abstinence are most vulnerable to lapses.
At Abbeycare, a structured and peer-reviewed aftercare plan is usually prepared whilst still in treatment. This comprises social, peer, and therapeutic resources individuals draw upon, following a residential treatment programme for drug or alcohol misuse.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a well-known therapy option used by doctors at drug and alcohol treatment facilities for the treatment of substance use disorders.
It is a form of talking therapy that helps one mange their problems by changing how they think and behave. This form of therapy is used to treat depression and anxiety and is useful for physical health problems as well as one’s mental health.
Family Therapy at Abbeycare Scotland or Gloucester is realistic, compassionate, and appropriate for families and loved ones of addicts.
Family therapeutic interventions in residential rehabilitation have been designed to support those living with or caring for participants entering the Abbeycare Programme.
Support for families in a group setting allows for a safe, constructive, and confidential place to listen and share common experiences.
Inpatient rehab is drug and/ or alcohol treatment in a rehab centre, where patients remain on-site for the duration of inpatient rehabilitation.
It includes detoxification from drugs, therapy (group work and 1-2-1 sessions), and aftercare planning. Inpatient rehabs typically last 28 days, but this varies on an individual basis.
Long-term treatment at Abbeycare has been developed for those suffering from alcohol or drug addiction. Completing a long-term drug and alcohol inpatient programme may be the solution to problematic substance use.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy can be used by trained addiction recovery therapists to elicit internal changes within and promote long-term recovery from substance use disorder.
All the answers to addiction can be found within with this comprehensive and successful therapy concept leads to behavioural changes, reflective listening, self-motivational statements, and a comprehensive recovery process.
Outpatient drug or alcohol rehab is daytime treatment as opposed to living in a treatment facility.
Outpatient treatment is similar to inpatient in terms of the methods used to treat substance abuse. Where they differ is in their approach to recovery.
Abbeycare’s prison to rehab is a 12-week structured rehab programme which involves direct transfer from prison. The suitability of the candidate is decided by prison staff.
Short-term residential treatment programmes are the chance to press the reset button and access a therapeutic programme designed to create recovery from the use of alcohol and drugs.
Feeling stuck in a rut. Want to stop but can’t seem to achieve sobriety?
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The 12-step programme was created by alcoholics anonymous (AA), and is specifically designed to aid addicts in achieving and maintaining abstinence.
The central ethos behind the programme is that participants must admit and surrender to a divine power to live happy lives. Ideas and experiences are shared in meetings, and help is sought in an attempt to achieve abstinence.
Abbeycare’s policy to respect your privacy and comply with any applicable law and regulation regarding any personal information we may collect about you, including across our website and other sites we own and operate.
Behavioural and pharmacological interventions are discussed to address persisting symptoms, such as:
Alternative antidepressants
Referrals for specialist mental health treatment
Psychoeducation with sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques
Ecstasy Symptom Management
There is no medicated detox available for ecstasy, although symptom management and withdrawal scales (e.g. ASCA or AWQ) are used to mitigate and assess the severity of withdrawal symptoms developing within 12 – 24 hours of detox.
Symptom management techniques used in ecstasy detox include:
75 – 200mg Trazodone at bedtime for up to 10 days to treat insomnia, anxiety and depression or SSRIs (e.g. fluoxetine) after 1 – 4 weeks for persisting depression [1]
Magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D supplements whilst encouraging patients to drink at least 2 – 3L of liquids daily to manage dehydration and electrolyte imbalances [2]
Propranolol or 75 – 150 (μg) Clonidine every 6-8 hours with ongoing blood pressure checks to minimise anxiety, restlessness and agitation [1] [2]
Daily omega-3 supplements with a minimum of 250–500 mg EPA and DHA combined to stimulate serotonin production following a 46% depletion caused by daily ecstasy use [3]
Physical Symptoms of Ecstasy Detox
Appetite Changes
Appetite changes occur in ecstasy detox due to an 18 - 36% decrease in serotoninergic and dopaminergic activity in the frontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus, following a 5-8-fold increase during active use [4] [5] [6].
49% of ecstasy detox patients feel hungrier within 1 - 3 days of cessation because appetite is no longer suppressed by ecstasy; increased appetite peaks during days 3 – 5 and typically subsides by day 7 [2] [7].
Appetite suppression during active ecstasy use leads to weight loss in 43% within 6 months, and some users gain up to 45 lbs within 6 months of recovery due to the rebound effect [8] [9].
Temperature Fluctuations
Temperature fluctuations occur in ecstasy detox because ecstasy takes around 40 hours (5 half-lives) for 95% of the drug to be cleared from the body [10].
Body temperature declines by around 0.2◦C during ecstasy detox, and 18 – 25% experience profuse sweating and hot and cold flushes for up to 2 days, which is exacerbated by [9] [11]:
Disruptions in neurotransmission during active use (e.g. 2.05 nmol/l increase of noradrenaline within 1 hour of intoxication) and cessation (e.g. a 46% reduction in serotonin) [3] [12]
Impaired thermoregulation following a 0.2 - 1.6◦C increase in body temperature in 90% of users, developing within 6 hours of drug-taking and lasting between 1 - 3 hours each time [9] [11] [13]
Bruxism
Bruxism occurs in ecstasy detox because serotonin and dopamine levels increase by up to 501% during active use and remain elevated by around 20% 3 months after cessation [5] [14].
Oral health checks are conducted, and NSAIDs are administered during ecstasy detox because:
89% experience bruxism that typically lasts between 24 – 48 hours after taking ecstasy, resulting in tight jaw muscles in 85% of users [13] [15]
Bruxism persists for over 2 days in 29% of patients, and 60% experience premolar and molar tooth wear, through the enamel and into the underlying bone [15] [16]
Abbeycare's ecstasy detox programme manages bruxism, headaches and muscle tenderness with muscle relaxants (e.g. Baclofen), paracetamol, and ibuprofen every 4 - 6 hours or as needed.
Sensitivity To Light And Sound
Sensitivity to light and sound occurs during ecstasy withdrawal because activity in the somatosensory and locomotor pathways is increased by up to 413% in the central nervous system after daily drug-taking [17].
7.3 - 8.2% experience visual and auditory hallucinations for up to 90 minutes during ecstasy withdrawal, following an increased perception of sound, touch and colour in 85 – 100% whilst intoxicated [9] [13].
One study found that 18 – 23-year-olds experienced sensory overload during days 1 – 4 of withdrawal, after claiming “Every sense is enhanced and ecstasy makes everything feel great” within 2 – 3 hours of intoxication [18].
Psychological Symptoms of Ecstasy Detox
An Emotional Crash
An emotional crash occurs in the first 24-78 hours of ecstasy detoxification due to an 18 – 36% depletion of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, resulting in exhaustion, fatigue, low mood, and dysphoria [4]:
Before An Emotional Crash (Intoxication)
During An Emotional Crash
After An Emotional Crash
Patient Presentation
Energetic, happy, and friendly
Exhausted and moody
Irritable, agitated, and restless
Onset
Around 45 – 60 minutes after drug-taking
12 – 24 hours after cessation
1 – 3 days after cessation
Duration
3 - 6 hours
2- 3 days
7 - 12 days
Depression
4.6%[9]
55%[13]
37%[7]
Lethargy
7.7% [9]
90% [13]
53% [7]
Anxiety/ Agitation
26.7% [9]
40% [13]
39% [7]
Euphoria
Euphoria occurs during ecstasy withdrawal because serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels remain imbalanced for up to 14 days after using ecstasy, resulting in:
The re-emergence of euphoria during days 1 – 3 of withdrawal, following the crash phase during the first 12 – 24 hours of detox and euphoric feelings in 100% for up to 6 hours whilst intoxicated [2] [13]
A 161.7% increase in self-reported feelings of euphoria (e.g. excited, energetic) between days 2 – 5 of withdrawal, following a 76.5% reduction in mood ratings from day 1 to day 2 [19]
Rebound euphoria accompanied by paranoid ideation and hallucinations in some cases, typically peaking between days 3 – 5 and easing within 1 week [2]
Providing daily omega-3 supplements with a minimum of 250–500 mg EPA and DHA and SSRIs (e.g. fluoxetine) to increase serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine production by 2-to-4 fold in the prefrontal cortex [20]
Providing frequent orientation, reassurance, and explanation of detoxification procedures to ease anxiety in patients with perceptual disturbances and giving general health advice about exercise, sleep and nutrition to improve mood [2]
Administering 75 – 200mg Trazodone or Clonidine daily to mitigate anxiety, insomnia, and depression and initiating referrals for specialist mental health care for persisting mood disturbances [1]
One study found that positive mood ratings (e.g. clear-headed, relaxed) were over 50% higher by day 5 of ecstasy withdrawal, in comparison to day 2 [19].
Reduction In Bruxism
Ecstasy detoxification reduces bruxism by:
Removing all toxins from the body and addressing serotonin and dopamine imbalances with antidepressants, hydration, sleep, and exercise to ease jaw clenching and teeth grinding within 24 – 72 hours of cessation
Administering Baclofen or 100 – 200mg Carbamazepine 1 – 2 times a day to relax jaw muscles and reduce facial pain by controlling electrical impulses in the brain [1]
Administering 1mg Paracetamol every 4 hours or 400mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours for headaches caused by temporalis muscle tightness and tenderness in 35 - 58% of detox patients [2] [9]
Liaising with dentists to provide soft dental splints and advice on dental hygiene, e.g. regular tooth brushing, flossing to avoid dental disease, using sugar-free chewing gum and fluoride mouthwash
Bruxism eases within 3 days of ecstasy withdrawal and the frequency of headaches caused by jaw clenching decreases by 35.5% from day 2 to 5 [16] [19].
Stabilisation Of Heart Rate And Blood Pressure
Ecstasy detoxification stabilises heart rate and blood pressure by:
Administering Propranolol or 75 – 150mg Clonidine every 6 – 8 hours to relax the blood vessels and facilitate steady blood flow [1]
Conducting blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate checks every 6 hours during days 1 – 3 and then daily [1]
Heart rate and blood pressure decrease to <100 beats/min and <120/80 mmHg within 12 – 24 hours of ecstasy withdrawal, after 85 - 100% experience tachycardia (>100beats/min) and hypertension (>140/90 mmHg) for up to 6 hours whilst intoxicated [13].
Heart palpitations reduce by 56.6% during ecstasy withdrawal as norepinephrine is no longer increased by 2.05 (nmol/l) once ecstasy is removed from the body [9] [12].
How Does Serotonin Depletion Change Ecstasy Detox?
Serotonin depletion changes ecstasy withdrawal by exacerbating depression, anxiety and irritability in 40 – 60% of patients for up to 6 months rather than 7 – 10 days after cessation [2] [9].
Ecstasy detoxification protocols are adapted to address the 46% reduction in serotonergic activity caused by consuming around 200 pills within 5 years by [3]:
Ensuring registered nurses conduct daily mental health assessments, monitor any changes in mental status, and administer medication as needed on an hourly basis [1]
Administering higher doses of Trazodone (200 vs 75mg) and Propranolol (160 vs 80mg) to manage depression, insomnia, and anxiety developing within 24 hours of last use [1]
Increasing SSRI dosages (e.g. 100mg Sertraline vs 25mg) to minimise dysphoria and low mood caused by ecstasy addiction whilst frequently evaluating patients for signs of psychosis and suicidal thoughts [1]
Referring patients with persisting mood disturbances for specialist mental health treatment and providing weekly telephone check-ins for up to 12 months after addiction treatment (or until symptoms have subsided), rather than 3 - 6 months [1] [2]
Ecstasy Detox At Abbeycare
Ecstasy detox at Abbeycare is provided as part of a 28-day full rehab programme to address ecstasy withdrawal symptoms. Detox and medication provided are personalised, according to decisions by our specialist medical team:
Antidepressants and nutritional supplements (e.g. Omega-3, Vitamin D) to manage anxiety, depression and cravings by restoring serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain
Baclofen, Paracetamol and NSAIDs to relax the jaw muscles, and minimise headaches caused by jaw clenching, teeth grinding and muscle tightness
Beta Blockers (e.g. Propranolol) and 75 – 150mg Clonidine daily to stabilise heart rate and blood pressure during the first 24 – 72 hours of withdrawal
About the author
Mischa Ezekpo
Mischa Ezekpo has a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Northumbria
University, and a Masters degree in Childhood Development and
Wellbeing, from Manchester Metropolitan University. Since 2018, Mischa
has written and published work on Addiction, Mental Health, Depression, and Eating Disorders. Content reviewed by Laura Morris (Clinical Lead).
