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Historically, hospitals have been know to utilize prescription beer to safely manage severe alcohol withdrawals, preventing life threatening gran mal seizures (lemmy.today)

submitted 6 days ago by sanitation@lemmy.today to c/interestingasfuck@lemmy.world

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[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Detoxing someone from end stage alcoholism is incredibly dangerous. In comparison detoxing from heroin is not great for the user, but there's no risk of death. It feels like a really bad flu for 72 hours and a mild flu for another 72.

[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

In comparison detoxing from heroin is not great for the user, but there's no risk of death.

That is not completely correct. While the abscence of opioids in an addicts system can not cause life threatening conditions, the withdrawal symptoms absolutely can.

The most direct pathway to fatality during opioid withdrawal is through severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Persistent, forceful vomiting and diarrhea are hallmark symptoms of acute withdrawal. This loss of bodily fluids, compounded by excessive sweating, can quickly lead to severe dehydration.

Dehydration can cause a dangerous concentration of electrolytes, particularly sodium, a condition known as hypernatremia. This electrolyte imbalance severely stresses the cardiovascular system. In extreme cases, hypernatremia can lead to seizures, brain damage, or cardiac arrhythmia and subsequent heart failure.

Another potential risk is aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when a person inhales their own vomit into their lungs. This is a particular concern if the individual is weakened or unable to protect their airway. This serious complication requires immediate medical intervention to prevent lung infection and respiratory failure.

Source: https://biologyinsights.com/can-you-die-from-opioid-withdrawal/

[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 days ago

So...like a flu.