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Alcohol withdrawal: how to stop safely and when to call

Coming off a long binge is more dangerous than the binge itself: on the second or third day without alcohol, seizures, delirium tremens and heart rhythm problems can appear. Stopping abruptly after a week of drinking is unsafe, and "hair of the dog" only starts the next round. The safe route is gradual, with fluids and, after a long binge, medical support.

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What to do right now

Do not stop abruptly after a long binge
If drinking lasted more than 5–7 days, reduce the dose over a day or call a doctor. Abrupt withdrawal is the main cause of seizures and delirium.
Drink and eat
Mineral water, broth, fermented milk drinks — small amounts every half hour. Dehydration and low potassium are what strain the heart.
Sleep and quiet
Do not try to work through it. Darken the room and reduce noise: delirium usually starts in the evening and at night.
No random medication
Tranquillisers, sedatives and similar drugs with alcohol still in the body depress breathing. Only as prescribed.
Watch for danger signs
Whole-body tremor, sweating, pulse above 110, hallucinations, confusion — this is withdrawal syndrome, not a hangover, and it needs a crew.

Call an ambulance if

A seizure — even a single one
Hallucinations, fear, confusion, "someone in the room" — the start of delirium tremens
Pulse above 110–120, irregular beats, chest pain
Vomiting blood or black stools
Yellow skin and eyes, pain under the right ribs
A binge longer than a week in someone over 50 or with heart disease
Unable to keep fluids down

What not to do

Do not give beer or vodka to "take the edge off" — it postpones rather than solves
Do not give sleeping pills or tranquillisers without a doctor
Do not leave the person alone once hallucinations start
Do not use saunas or cold water

What the crew does

Examination, blood pressure, ECG, blood sugar — a heart attack and hypoglycaemia hide behind a hangover
A drip with fluids, electrolytes and B vitamins; sedation and sleep medication if indicated
Observation until stable, advice for the next 24 hours
Admission to a narcology or toxicology unit for delirium or seizures

This page is for information and does not replace a medical examination. If the condition worsens, call the crew: +7 (985) 887-82-52.

This page in Russian: Russian version.

Questions

Is it confidential?

Yes. The crew arrives without narcology markings, no one is put on any register, and the paperwork is ordinary medical documentation. Employers are not informed.

How much does a detox drip at home cost in Moscow?

Call-out 6,000 ₽ plus the infusion by the price list, usually 10,000–20,000 ₽ depending on the contents and duration. The dispatcher quotes the price in advance.

Can someone come off a binge alone in a day?

After a short binge of two or three days — yes, with water, food and sleep. After a week or more, doing it alone is dangerous: seizures arrive on day two or three, exactly when the person feels better.