Detoxification is the process of eliminating alcohol and giving the drinker's system time to readjust to the absence of alcohol. Detoxification from alcohol can be undertaken in ambulatory settings with patients who are alcohol-dependent and show signs of mild to moderate withdrawal when they are not drinking.
  Drugs that have the same effects are used to relief the withdrawal symptoms. They can have lethal outcome if they are untreated.

  Often used drugs are anodyne such as diazepam or barbiturates such as phenobarbital. Many weeks later individuals may still suffer from milder withdrawal symptoms; sleep is generally the last function to return to normal.
  Anodynes are used with possible approaches:
• Anodyne-loading is a process through which patients are gradually given increasing doses of the medication to determine the level of tolerance already present as a result of ongoing alcohol use. Once the level is determined the medication is gradually tapered from that point.
• Patients are given doses of the taper medication depending upon the level of withdrawal symptoms present. Patients then are monitored for withdrawal symptoms and medicated as needed over the course of several days.

    The medication used at detoxes does not make you quit drinking. You need to make a decision to quit. Detoxification without supplemental treatments to help the patient continue abstinence have a very high rate of relapse. The medication simply helps you to feel better, the body readjusts to not having alcohol. Even after the detoxification you may still have some need for alcohol. So you will still need will-power and coping strategies for when you feel tempted to drink.
  Detoxification often takes place within an inpatient environment. Some programs offer outpatient detoxification.

  Some people manage quite easily, others find it more difficult. You can expect to:
• feel quite nervous or anxious for a few days;
• have some difficulty with getting off to sleep for a few nights;
• have some mild withdrawal symptoms but they should not be too bad and a lot less than if you were not taking the detox medicine.