Reviewed byBaurzhan Kassymov, MDAddiction physician · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F10.3
- Who provides it
- an addiction physician and a procedure nurse from the mobile team
- Where
- at the patient's home; teams in Almaty and Astana, home visits to other cities of Kazakhstan
- Duration
- the visit itself takes 2–4 hours; the team usually arrives within 1–2 hours of your call
- Confidentiality
- no registration with the state addiction registry; medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- When it is an emergency
- seizures, delirium, hallucinations, chest pain, vomiting blood — call 103 or 112 immediately
- Outcome
- the binge is stopped, the person sleeps, and there is a 2–3 day monitoring plan with treatment recommendations
What to know
When relatives call us in the middle of the night, the first thing I ask them to do is to calm down and answer a few questions: how many days the binge has lasted, what and how much the person has been drinking, whether they have any chronic illnesses, and whether they have ever had seizures or delirium tremens (“the DTs”) before. These answers decide whether our team goes to the home or whether it is safer to take the patient straight to an inpatient unit. The home format is good because the person does not have to travel anywhere while feeling very unwell, but it is not right for everyone.
The goal of a home visit is not simply to “put someone on a drip” but to end the binge safely: relieve intoxication, replace lost fluids and electrolytes, reduce anxiety and tremor, help the person sleep and prevent complications during the first 2–3 days of sobriety. That is why the doctor does not leave as soon as the IV is finished: they explain to the family how to manage the night, which symptoms are warning signs and when to call again. At Akalam, we see a home visit as the first step, not the whole treatment.
When to Call an Addiction Physician to Your Home
- the binge has lasted more than two or three days and the person cannot stop on their own
- shaky hands in the morning, sweating, a racing heart, and feeling worse without alcohol
- unable to eat, drinking only alcohol and water, with episodes of vomiting
- barely sleeping, or sleeping only in one- or two-hour stretches with nightmares
- the person asks for help but is afraid of the hospital or cannot get there
- previous attempts to “quit on their own” ended in relapse within the first day
- there is high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, and the family is worried about their condition
If life is at risk — loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Helpline for children and young people: 150.
Why It Is So Hard to Come Off a Binge on Your Own
After several days of continuous drinking, the body adapts: alcohol starts acting as a “brake” on the nervous system. When it is suddenly removed, the brain is left in a state of overexcitation — hence the tremor, anxiety, insomnia and blood pressure spikes. These are symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (ICD-10 F10.3), and the person drinks again not out of weakness but to relieve these sensations.
At the same time, ethanol breakdown products build up, the body loses fluid, potassium and magnesium, and the liver and heart are put under strain. That is why trying to “sleep it off” or drinking pickle brine does little to help, and stopping abruptly without supervision can, in some patients, lead to seizures or alcohol withdrawal delirium on days 2–4. The doctor's job is to get the person through this period under medical control rather than simply waiting for it to “pass by itself.”
How a Home Visit by an Addiction Physician Works: Step by Step
First, over the phone or by video, the doctor asks about how long the binge has lasted, any illnesses and current medications — this helps decide whether home treatment is appropriate. The team arrives in ordinary clothes, in an unmarked car. Next comes the examination: blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood sugar and, if needed, an ECG. After that the IV drip is started, usually lasting 1–2 hours. At the end, the doctor reassesses the person's condition, leaves written recommendations and arranges a follow-up call for the next day.
Home detox is not performed if there are signs of delirium (confusion, hallucinations), seizures, a head injury, suspected poisoning with surrogate alcohol, severe heart disease, a binge lasting more than 2–3 weeks, pregnancy, or if the person flatly refuses. In these cases inpatient care is needed, and if there is a threat to life, call 103 or 112 right away. No one is treated against their will at home: an adult must agree at least to an examination.
How we help
Examination and rapid diagnostics
Before any IV drip, the doctor measures blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen and blood sugar levels, and assesses the person's neurological and mental state. If there is chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, an ECG is taken. This stage takes 10–20 minutes, but it is what determines the composition of the drip and whether it is safe to stay at home. Without an examination, a “standard set” of drugs can be dangerous.
IV fluid therapy
The drip includes detoxification and saline solutions, B vitamins and, when needed, liver-support medications and drugs to support the heart. The composition is tailored to each person, taking into account blood pressure, body weight and other illnesses. The nurse controls the volume and infusion rate, while the doctor stays close by the whole time and watches how the patient responds.
Relieving anxiety and restoring sleep
The doctor reduces anxiety, tremor and insomnia with medications that are prescribed only when clinically indicated and dosed for the specific person. It is important to understand that taking sleeping pills without an examination and on top of alcohol is dangerous, so you should not give the person “something to calm down” from your home medicine cabinet, even if it seemed to “help” before.
A plan for the coming days
After the drip, the family receives recommendations: what and how much to drink and eat, which symptoms to watch for at night, and when a repeat visit is needed. Usually the doctor calls the next day, and after a severe binge may suggest a second IV drip. This is also when we discuss what comes next — a consultation, addiction treatment or rehab.
How treatment works
- 01Call or WhatsAppThe administrator and the doctor on duty clarify the situation and tell you what to do right now.
- 02Examination or consultationThe doctor visits your home, sees you at the clinic or joins by video.
- 03Treatment planWe choose the format — at home, inpatient, psychotherapy or rehab — with a clear price.
- 04Ongoing supportYour doctor and psychotherapist stay in touch: follow-ups, family support and relapse prevention.
Myths and facts
MythOne IV drip is enough to cure alcoholism
FactAn IV drip stops the binge and relieves intoxication, but it does not treat the addiction itself. If nothing changes afterward, the next binge often starts within weeks. That is why the doctor talks about the next steps right away: consultations, psychotherapy and, if the person wishes, alcohol “coding” (a treatment widely used in Kazakhstan and CIS countries).
MythAt home you can just let the person sleep it off
FactAfter a short episode this sometimes works, but after a binge lasting many days, stopping alcohol abruptly without supervision is dangerous: seizures and delirium can develop on days 2–4. Sleep without monitoring blood pressure and pulse is not treatment — it is just waiting.
MythA home-visit addiction physician will definitely put you on the registry
FactPaid anonymous care at a private clinic is provided without registration with the state addiction (dispensary) registry. Information about the patient is a medical secret and may be disclosed only in cases expressly provided for by the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Prices: Alcohol detox at home
| Alcohol detox at home | |
| Addiction doctor home visit: examination and advice | 20 000 ₸ |
| Repeat IV drip the next day | 20 000 ₸ |
| 24 hours in the inpatient unit | 45 000 ₸ |
| Phone consultation | free |
Prices are approximate: the doctor confirms the exact cost after the examination, before treatment starts.
Confidential
We do not register patients with state dispensaries or share information with employers. You do not have to give your surname; doctors arrive in unmarked cars. Medical confidentiality is protected by the Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”.
Clinic addresses
FAQ
How quickly will the addiction physician arrive?
In Almaty and Astana, the team usually arrives within 1–2 hours, including at night and on public holidays. For other cities of Kazakhstan, the time depends on the distance, and you will be told right away when you call. If seizures, confusion or chest pain appear before the team arrives, do not wait for the doctor — call 103 or 112.
Does the patient have to consent?
Yes. An adult cannot be treated without their consent, and the doctor will not start an IV drip against the person's will. Often it is enough for the person to agree to an examination — during a calm conversation many people then agree to the procedure as well. If there is no consent, the doctor can advise the relatives on what to do next.
Can the person drink before the doctor arrives?
It is better not to give alcohol “to ease things,” but there is also no need to take the bottle away by force. It is more important to prepare a list of the medications the person takes and to remember when they last had a drink. Give them water, lay them on their side if they are vomiting, and do not leave them alone.
How many IV drips will be needed?
For a binge of up to a week, one visit is often enough; for a longer one, 2–3 drips over several days may be needed. The doctor decides based on how the person feels, their blood pressure, sleep and appetite. If there is no improvement or the condition gets worse, we discuss moving to inpatient care.
What should we prepare before the team arrives?
Clear space next to the bed, good lighting, a hook or hanger for the IV bag, medical records and discharge summaries, and a list of medications. Ideally one calm relative should be present. It is best to shut pets in another room and to take children to the neighbors or to a different room.
What happens after the binge is over?
For the first 2–3 days the person feels weak and may sleep poorly — this is normal. It is important not to go back to drinking “just a little.” At Akalam, we offer a follow-up consultation with an addiction physician a few days later to discuss addiction treatment, psychotherapy or coding — according to the patient's own wishes.
Sources and review
Prepared by the Akalam medical editorial team based on:
- ICD-10 and ICD-11: mental and behavioural disorders
- Clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan
- Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- WHO: mental health and substance use
- NICE and APA clinical guidelines
This information is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Editorial policy