Alcohol Withdrawal
Learn how our medication eliminates alcohol cravings and enables you to lower your consumption or stop drinking, all from the comfort of your home.
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Andy describes his journey for recovery and how Ria Health has reduced his drinking substantially.
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Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
After a long period of excessive drinking, your body can become dependent on alcohol. This makes it difficult to suddenly stop, as your body expects alcohol to function properly. The result can be unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Mild to Moderate Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Shakiness, including shaking hands
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Brain fog, or difficulty thinking clearly
- Bad dreams or nightmares
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Feeling “high-strung” or irritable
- Rapid mood swings
More Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
- Increased body temperature
- Rapid breathing
- Elevated heart rate
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Severe anxiety or mood disturbances
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Delirium tremens
Ria’s program gave me much needed room to breathe, and re-calibrate my relationship with alcohol.
– Amy
Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline
Day 1
You may experience hangover-like symptoms, including headaches, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and shaking hands. More severe withdrawal might include hallucinations or changes in blood pressure, which may need medical attention.
Days 2 - 3
Symptoms often peak during this period, and a person may experience additional symptoms such as mental confusion, an irregular heartbeat, and elevated body temperature. The risk of seizures becomes highest 24-48 hours after your last drink.
Days 3 - 5
Some experience an easing of symptoms at this point, Others can develop more serious conditions such as delirium tremens (hallucinations, fever, and dangerous fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure). This condition requires medical attention
Days 5 - 7
Many people see significant improvements in withdrawal symptoms at this point, although it can sometimes take a few weeks for symptoms like insomnia and mood disturbances to go away.
After the first week of withdrawal, physical symptoms usually pass. However, many people experience something called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS), which can include anxiety, insomnia, and strong cravings. For this reason, many people look for several months of support after giving up alcohol.
How To Get Started With Ria Health
1. Schedule Enrollment Call
Start by scheduling a call with an enrollment agent. They will answer any questions you might have about our program and prequalify you to meet with your medical team.
2. Meet Your Medical Team
Once you have been enrolled into the program, you can schedule your first meeting with your medical team. This is where you’ll discuss your goals, get prescriptions, and receive a customized plan.
3. Track Your Progress
With the provided breathalyzer, you can start monitoring your alcohol levels, keep track of your progression, and start seeing the results you want!
Preparing for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you are planning to quit alcohol cold turkey, here are some important tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure you have adequate food, medicine, and other supplies beforehand.
- Let loved ones know what you are doing, and ask them to check in on you.
- Ask people you often drink with to give you some space.
- Learn some deep-breathing, meditation, or mindfulness exercises beforehand.
- Be prepared with some distractions, like movies or games.
- Have a plan in the case of an emergency, including a doctor and a loved one you can call.
Tapering off slowly instead of quitting cold turkey can also reduce withdrawal symptoms, making things safer and easier.
If you think there is a chance you may have severe withdrawal symptoms, it’s best to check into a detox facility or find some other form of medical supervision to assure your safety.
Have Questions About Our Online Program?
By scheduling a call, you can speak with an enrollment specialist who will help answer any questions you might have about our program and alcohol withdrawal.
Are There Medications For Alcohol Withdrawal?
There are no medications that can prevent alcohol withdrawal, but there are many that can help manage it. The most popular include:
- Benzodiazepines – including Librium and Valium. These medications are sedative, assist with anxiety, and can mute many of the worst withdrawal symptoms. However, they are also addictive and need to be tapered off.
- Baclofen – This drug can be used to gradually reduce alcohol consumption, or make withdrawal less severe. While not considered addictive, baclofen does have its own withdrawal effects and also needs to be tapered when you stop.
- Gabapentin – This drug is primarily used to treat epilepsy and nerve pain, so it can prevent seizures and other nervous-system-related consequences of alcohol withdrawal. It may also have its own withdrawal symptoms.
None of these medications can block the effects of detox completely, and none should be taken without supervision. Medication for withdrawal is best used within a well-rounded treatment plan.
Private, Simple & From the Comfort of Home
At Ria Health we provide an online program including medication and coaching to help you reduce your drinking.
Secure Video Chat
At Ria Health, we offer expert care & customized treatment plans from the privacy and comfort of your home. This is all done through secure video chat with your coach and medical team. You can also keep track of your progress and chat with your team anytime through our app.
FDA Approved Medications
During one of your first private video chat sessions, you will meet with your medical team. This is when a custom treatment plan is created for you. You will also receive access to FDA-approved medications proven to help individuals reduce their drinking or stop completely.
Accessible From Anywhere
Our convenient app means you’ll never have to travel long distances to get treatment or support again. You have the ability to track your progress and chat with your coaches and medical team. You'll also get access to support guides to help you during treatment.
Why Ria Health?
Ria Health is committed to helping people get the help they need to stop drinking.
We Work With Most Major Insurance Providers
Ria Health is partnered with most major insurance providers across the nation. Schedule your free consultation call and an enrollment agent will be able to assist verifying your coverage for treatment.
Read What Some of Our Members Have To Say
Ria Health has helped thousands of members improve their relationship to alcohol.
Monitoring my intake with the breathalyzer [included in the program] was a motivation to not drink too much, as well as taking naltrexone an hour before, which caused me to pause and delay my drinking. I now have much better awareness around my drinking, and my cravings for alcohol are gone.
Michelle
Before your program I was a daily drinker. Mostly wine but mostly the entire bottle in one sitting. Since taking your counseling and the miracle drug naltrexone, I am finally rid of the temptation to drink.
Maria
Ria Health is a life-changer. I have done AA, and four or five stays at rehab and IOPs that really didn’t help at all. With Ria Health, after less than one year, I don’t even think about drinking anymore. This was the best money I have ever spent on dealing with alcohol addiction!
Mark
Through Ria’s program, I gained the ability to control my drinking. My coach gave me tools to better understand why I drink and to see the bigger picture. The medication was also a life-saver…I am happy to say after ten years of heavy drinking, I no longer abuse alcohol!
Rob*Results may vary. Names and images have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have some questions? Look through some of our FAQ to get help. If you can’t find an answer to a question, give us a call or schedule an appointment.
How effective is online alcohol treatment?
Online treatment is equally, if not more, effective than most forms of in-person treatment. Medication, coaching, and most necessary forms of medical support can be conducted virtually without any reduction in quality. In fact, the greater ease of access can make people more likely to stick with treatment. At Ria Health, our members actively in treatment see an average 50% decrease in their drinking in their first month with us.
Does Ria Health work with my health insurance?
We work with most major health insurance providers across the US. To check your coverage, you can begin by clicking any of our “Insurance Verification” buttons across the website. You can upload an image of your card or manually enter the data, then schedule a call to go over your benefits with one of our enrollment professionals.
How much does the Ria Health program cost?
The Ria Health program offers two monthly payment options, and is also covered by many insurance providers. The cost of the program will depend on your insurance coverage, and which of our plans you choose. If you pay out-of-pocket, our program is still significantly cheaper than most outpatient programs. To review your options, schedule a call with an enrollment agent, or click “Insurance Verification” anywhere on our site.
What is the purpose of the breathalyzer?
The breathalyzer reinforces new behaviors around alcohol and helps you and your care team track your progress. Regularly testing your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) keeps you accountable to yourself, and also gives you a ritual to remind you of your goals. And because the breathalyzer pairs with our app via Bluetooth, you’ll be able to see how your drinking is changing over time. This provides encouragement and also lets your team see what is and isn’t working so they can better support you.
Will I need to download an app?
Yes, the Ria Health program is primarily conducted through our HIPAA-compliant smartphone app. This allows us to provide care remotely, wherever you may be. The Ria Health app also lets you monitor your breathalyzer results, communicate with your medical team through a private chat, read helpful content, watch videos, and much more.
Will insurance cover treatment? Verify Coverage
Have Questions? Call (800) 504-5360
