Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
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Alcohol kindling occurs when a person experiences repeated alcohol withdrawals, and the symptoms become more severe with each relapse.
Kindling in alcoholism can be compared to when someone kindles a fire. Kindling a fire means creating a spark and then igniting the fire.
If someone starts a fire using material that’s already burning, the fire is easy to kindle and create. For example, hot coals.
Alcohol kindling effects are the main reason why people relapse.
When a person is addicted to alcohol and stops or reduces their drinking, they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms usually start within 12 to 24 hours after the last drink.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include:
Withdrawal symptoms occur because the brain and body are attempting to return to a state where they don’t need alcohol to function. Detox occurs when the body is trying to remove alcohol toxins.
The intensity of these withdrawal symptoms can drive someone to begin drinking again to soothe their emotional distress or pain.
During the kindling effect, the body and brain become highly sensitive to alcohol and the withdrawal symptoms that develop.
Every relapse and detox from alcohol becomes more painful and intense. More severe withdrawal symptoms can develop because of alcohol kindling during each occurrence of relapse and withdrawal.
The risk of seizures and a dangerous condition called delirium tremens increase because of alcohol kindling.
The medical framework of kindling is applied to many issues involving brain chemistry, including:
Kindling was first recorded in 1986 when neuroscientist Graham Goddard electrically stimulated different areas of rats’ brains to assess the learning process. However, the rats began to experience seizures in response to other stimulation that would typically be too low to cause convulsions.
Eventually, the rats developed seizure disorders. They’d experience convulsions that would begin without any stimuli.
Both clinical and experimental evidence supports the existence of alcohol kindling during withdrawal.1 Withdrawal symptoms, like seizures, occur from neurochemical imbalances in the brain of heavy drinkers who suddenly reduce or stop alcohol consumption.1
Alcohol kindling during withdrawal suggests that even those with mild withdrawal should be treated aggressively. This helps to prevent the increase in the severity of withdrawal episodes.1
Kindling may also contribute to a person’s relapse risk, alcohol-related brain damage, and cognitive impairment.
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Groups at risk for alcohol kindling include people:
Kindling can be overcome with long enough abstinence from alcohol. New brain cell growth helps to overcome kindling.
However, it’s important to:
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There’s no cure for alcohol kindling. However, the effective management of symptoms and relapse prevention can help.
Attending a medical detox center helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms and can set you up with comprehensive aftercare treatment programs.
Treatment for kindling mainly focuses on keeping the person safe. Specific measures are taken to ensure they’re as comfortable as possible during the process.
Therapies can be used to help people manage the anxiety and distress resulting from painful alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Medications can also address anxiety and depression and help prevent seizures.
For many people with alcohol kindling, treatment can take several weeks or longer.
If you experience delirium tremens or are at risk for seizures during detox, your doctor may prescribe anticonvulsant medication. For example, a benzodiazepine.
A benzodiazepine is a short-term anti-anxiety medication that works on the GABA receptors to induce similar effects as alcohol. Your doctor may prescribe a different anticonvulsant, especially if you have epilepsy.
Scans show that the brain remains impaired during the early stages of the recovery process, which can last for several weeks.
Even when the body isn’t dependent on alcohol to manage brain chemistry, compulsive behaviors triggered by cravings or stress may still contribute to relapse.
Repeated attempts to quit alcohol without success may require an inpatient rehab program instead of outpatient treatment.
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Alcoholism treatment can vary depending on your needs. However, working to stop alcohol use to improve quality of life is the primary treatment goal.
Treatment may start with a detox program. This is withdrawal that’s medically managed.
Detox often takes between 2 to 5 days. You may need to take sedative medicine to treat withdrawal symptoms.2
Alcohol detox usually occurs at an inpatient treatment center or a hospital.
This process usually involves alcohol treatment specialists.
It may include:2
Counseling and therapy help you better understand your issues with alcohol. You may also benefit from couples or family therapy. Family support can be an essential part of the recovery process.2
For severe cases of alcohol use disorder, you may require a stay at a residential treatment center.
Most residential treatment programs include:2
Residential treatment programs usually include help from:
Alcohol kindling occurs when a person experiences repeated alcohol withdrawals, and the symptoms become more severe with each relapse.Both clinical and experimental evidence support the existence of alcohol kindling during withdrawal.
Kindling can be overcome with long enough abstinence from alcohol. Detox and medications can also help manage the symptoms of alcohol kindling.
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