Medicated detox manages the body’s response when a person stops drinking or sharply reduces alcohol. The goal is to reduce withdrawal symptoms, watch for complications and make the person as comfortable as can safely be achieved.
The best time to call is before withdrawal becomes severe. You do not have to wait until the person is sober. A person who has been drinking can still call and ask for help, and a family member or other trusted person can call to describe what is happening. The care team can begin gathering information and determine the next safe step.
Calling early gives the team time to arrange the phone consultation with Dr. Jonathan Reitman, agree on a start date, obtain the prescribed medication and place the nurse in the home. Once a seizure, delirium or another medical emergency has developed, emergency stabilization may be needed before a planned home detox can begin.
Call 911 now if the person has a seizure, cannot be awakened, has trouble breathing, is severely confused, is hallucinating, faints, shows signs of stroke or is rapidly getting worse.
“I’ve been through detox several times and this was by far the best care I’ve ever received. The medical attention and the personal attention couldn’t have been better.”
When Should You Call About Alcohol Detox?
Call while you still have time to plan—not after you are certain the situation is serious. It is appropriate to call:
- while the person is still drinking but wants to stop;
- while the person is intoxicated and asking for help;
- before shaking, sweating, nausea, anxiety or insomnia begins;
- when early symptoms are present but the person is still responsive; or
- when a family member is worried and does not know whether it is safe to wait.
Alcohol withdrawal can begin after drinking has fallen substantially from a person’s usual level, even while alcohol remains detectable in the body. 1 A positive blood alcohol concentration therefore does not make a request for help premature or pointless.
“I called detox concierge, lady on the phone was very nice and answered all my questions patiently.”
What Happens in Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol slows activity in the brain and nervous system. With repeated heavy drinking, the body adapts to alcohol being present. When the alcohol level falls quickly, the body can remain in an overactive state for a time. That reaction is alcohol withdrawal. 1
Withdrawal may affect:
- Sleep and comfort: anxiety, restlessness, shaking, sweating and insomnia;
- Stomach and hydration: nausea, vomiting, poor appetite and difficulty keeping down fluids;
- Heart and circulation: a rapid pulse and elevated blood pressure;
- Balance and movement: weakness, tremors, poor coordination and falls;
- Awareness: agitation, hallucinations, severe confusion or delirium; and
- Brain activity: seizures, sometimes without obvious warning signs.
Elevated blood pressure is not merely an uncomfortable symptom. A severe blood-pressure emergency can lead to stroke, heart attack or loss of consciousness. 3 The nurse tracks blood pressure together with the patient’s other symptoms and reports material changes to Dr. Reitman.
Falls also matter. A person may be unsteady because of intoxication, weakness, tremors, confusion or medication. Alcohol-withdrawal guidance specifically calls for fall precautions and nursing assistance when needed. 1
Why Is It Better to Call Before Symptoms Become Severe?
Withdrawal does not follow the same schedule in every person. Symptoms may begin within hours after alcohol is stopped or sharply reduced. Alcohol-withdrawal seizures most often occur within roughly 8 to 48 hours, while withdrawal delirium may appear later—sometimes several days after drinking changes. 1
The point of that timeline is not to tell someone to wait six, twelve or twenty-four hours. It is to explain why feeling reasonably well now does not guarantee that waiting is safe.
Before symptoms, or while symptoms are mild, there is more time to complete the medical consultation, obtain medication and place continuous nursing care in the home. If severe confusion, a seizure, breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness or signs of stroke have already developed, call 911. The immediate need may be emergency stabilization rather than the planned start of home detox.
Waiting can close the window for an orderly, planned start at home.
How Does Medicated Detox Help?
Dr. Jonathan Reitman reviews the individual patient, prescribes the medication and directs the medical care remotely. He remains available on call to the nurse during the detox. His experience in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine guides the treatment; recognized clinical guidelines support, but do not replace, his judgment.
Medication is included in every Detox Concierge alcohol detox. The medication and instructions are personalized to the patient.
Medication can reduce withdrawal symptoms and lower the risk of certain complications. It may also help the person sleep. Better sleep can improve appetite, personal hygiene, mood and the ability to continue with treatment. The goal is not sedation for its own sake; it is safe symptom control that helps the patient remain medically stable and engaged.
Care is informed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s guideline for alcohol-withdrawal management and federal guidance from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 1 2
“The medical attention and the personal attention couldn’t have been better. I never imagined that I would sleep so well during a detox.”
Why Does the Nurse Stay in the Home?
The nurse remains onsite continuously, including overnight. This is not an occasional check-in service. The nurse follows Dr. Reitman’s orders, administers the prescribed medication and watches how the patient responds over time.
Depending on the medical orders and the patient’s condition, the nurse:
- observes withdrawal symptoms and changes in awareness or behavior;
- checks and records the required vital signs;
- administers medication as ordered;
- watches for excessive sedation or breathing changes;
- helps reduce fall risk and assists the patient when movement is unsafe;
- monitors vomiting, oral fluids, rest and sleep;
- updates Dr. Reitman and requests further direction; and
- offers calm, nonjudgmental emotional support.
That emotional support is part of the service. An experienced nurse can help a frightened, uncomfortable or discouraged patient stay motivated long enough to complete the detox.
Comfort also comes from remaining at home and being treated like an adult. Detox Concierge does not routinely take away the patient’s phone. With the patient’s permission, family members, partners or other trusted people may remain involved. The patient is not required to accept AA, a 12-step program or residential rehab in order to receive medical care.
“The most impressive thing was I don’t think the woman ever went to sleep. I think she just watched me to make sure I was OK the whole time she was here.”
“The nurse made the process as comfortable as possible, friendly, funny and communicative.”
“I bought all the groceries I wanted and was able to use my phone , have family visit and relax and watch what I want.”
How Does In-Home Alcohol Detox Begin?
- Call or text the care team. You may call while the person is still drinking, intoxicated, not yet symptomatic or beginning to experience withdrawal. The team explains current availability, price, payment and the intake process.
- Complete a scheduled phone consultation with Dr. Reitman. The patient ordinarily does not need to visit an office or wait for a physician to come to the home.
- Agree on the plan and start date. Care can usually begin within 24 hours after the consultation once arrangements are complete.
- The nurse obtains the prescribed medication. The nurse does this before traveling to the patient.
- The nurse completes the onsite assessment and BAC test.
- Treatment begins. The nurse administers the medication according to Dr. Reitman’s orders, remains onsite and keeps him informed.
Most Detox Concierge alcohol-detox programs are planned for five days, although Dr. Reitman may recommend longer care. One all-inclusive charge covers the agreed services, including travel. Detox Concierge is private-pay and does not bill or accept insurance.
Routine cooking and nutrition support are not included. IV fluids are not standard; if Dr. Reitman determines that they are clinically appropriate, they may be ordered for an additional charge.
For the complete service description, read Alcohol Detox at Home.
Call or text our care team at (310) 484-4803 to ask how the process works, what it costs and when care may begin.
“In-home detox Los Angeles was confidential and professional.”
Medical Sources
1 American Society of Addiction Medicine, The ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management. Supports the withdrawal mechanism, positive-BAC caution, timing ranges, medication principles, monitoring and fall precautions.
2 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, TIP 49, Appendix C: Excerpts From the Quick Guide for Clinicians Based on TIP 45. Supports detoxification, stabilization and escalation principles.
3 American Heart Association, When To Call 911 About High Blood Pressure. Supports the statement that a hypertensive emergency can result in stroke, heart attack, loss of consciousness and other organ injury.
FAQs
No. A person who has been drinking can call and ask for help, and someone close to the patient may also call. The care team can begin the intake and determine the next safe step. The treatment itself begins according to Dr. Reitman’s orders and the agreed plan.
No. Calling before symptoms become severe creates time to complete the medical consultation, obtain medication and arrange continuous nursing. If mild symptoms have begun, call now rather than waiting for a fixed point on a timeline.
Yes. Withdrawal can begin after a substantial reduction from the person’s usual intake even when a blood alcohol test remains positive.
Call 911 for a seizure, inability to awaken the person, trouble breathing, severe confusion, hallucinations, fainting, signs of stroke, a blood-pressure emergency or any rapidly worsening condition. Do not wait for a routine callback in an obvious emergency.
Ordinarily, no. Dr. Reitman conducts the scheduled medical consultation by phone and directs treatment remotely. The nurse provides the continuous onsite care.
Most Detox Concierge alcohol-detox programs are planned for five days. Symptoms and medical needs vary, and Dr. Reitman may recommend longer care.
Prescribed medication is included. IV fluids are not standard. They may be ordered for an additional charge when Dr. Reitman determines they are clinically appropriate.
A member of the care team explains availability, current pricing, payment and next steps. The team schedules the phone consultation with Dr. Reitman if the person decides to proceed.