Alcohol detox at home in Almaty

Reviewed byRinat Zhumabekov, MDAddiction psychiatrist, experience 21 years · updated 8 Nov 2026

Key facts

ICD-10 code

F10.3

Who provides care

A psychiatrist-addiction specialist (narcologist) from the mobile team, with a nurse if needed

Where

The patient’s apartment or house in any district of Almaty and nearby suburbs

Duration

IV drip and observation usually take 2–4 hours; a repeat visit if clinically indicated

Anonymity

Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System,” no state dispensary registry

When it is urgent

Seizures, delusions, hallucinations, chest pain, vomiting blood — call 103 or 112 immediately

Outcome

Relief of intoxication, sleep, a plan for getting through withdrawal and further treatment

What you should know

I am the on-call doctor of a mobile team, and most of our nights start the same way: a wife, a son or the person themselves calls and says they have been drinking for the fifth, seventh or tenth day and cannot stop. The dispatcher calmly clarifies the essentials: how many days the binge has lasted, what and how much was drunk over the last 24 hours, whether there are chronic illnesses, whether there have been seizures or “visions” before, and whether the person has taken any pills. These answers tell us whether we can help at home or whether it is safer to go straight to an inpatient unit.

Then comes the drive. In Almaty, arrival time depends not on good intentions but on the city itself: in the evening, getting from the lower part of town up to the Medeu district takes longer because of traffic jams, while at night we move faster along an empty Al-Farabi Avenue. For the Alatau and Nauryzbay districts, Kaskelen or Otegen Batyr, the dispatcher gives a realistic arrival time right away, with no promises of “five minutes.” While the team is on the way, we tell you over the phone what to do: do not give alcohol “to ease the symptoms,” and have medical records and a list of current medications ready.

When to Call an Addiction Doctor to Your Home

• the binge has lasted more than three days and the person cannot stop on their own
• shaking hands in the morning, heavy sweating, a racing heart, nausea
• without another drink, anxiety and insomnia keep getting worse
• the person barely eats, drinks little water and suffers from vomiting
• blood pressure rises, headaches and weakness appear
• previous attempts to “quit on my own” ended in relapse
• relatives can see the condition getting worse every day

If heavy drinking has lasted more than two or three days, or there is shaking, vomiting, blood-pressure spikes or insomnia, you need a doctor rather than stopping alone. Phone advice is free. For seizures, confusion or hallucinations call 103 or 112.

Why It Is So Hard to Stop a Drinking Binge on Your Own

When I walk into an apartment, I usually see the same picture: drawn curtains, bottles by the bed, and a person who has not properly slept for several days. During a binge, the body adapts so that alcohol becomes a “remedy” for its own effects: stopping abruptly triggers withdrawal syndrome — tremor, blood pressure spikes, anxiety and insomnia. That is why few people manage to “just stop,” and this is not a weakness of character but the physiology of addiction.

There is also a dangerous side. On days 2–4 after the last drink, some people develop seizures or alcohol withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens), especially if such episodes have happened before. Dehydration, vitamin B deficiency and coexisting liver and heart disease increase the risks. That is why the doctor never starts an IV drip blindly: first they measure blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation, check blood sugar if necessary, ask questions, and only then decide what to give and in what volume.

How we help

Myths and facts

How a home visit works

1. Call or message usThe dispatcher answers 24/7 and in 3–5 minutes checks the person's condition, age, how long the drinking or use has lasted, chronic conditions and the address. No surname needed.
2. The doctor sets offAn addiction doctor or psychiatrist comes with equipment and medication. Travel time depends on the district — usually within an hour. If inpatient care or an ambulance is needed, we'll say so straight away.
3. Examination and treatmentBlood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood sugar if needed and a neurological check. Then an IV drip or other treatment as indicated, 1–3 hours.
4. A plan for the next daysAdvice for the family on what to do overnight and tomorrow, phone follow-up and a repeat visit if needed.
5. Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.

Prices in Almaty

The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.

Where to get help

Narcology 24 in Almaty: our duty team makes home visits day and night, usually within an hour (all city districts and nearby settlements). Two branches for appointments and procedures — 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. When indicated, we arrange admission and transport.

Confidential and private

Information about your request, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We do not share it with employers, schools, the police or neighbours; the only exceptions are those expressly set by law. A first name is enough to call us, and paid confidential treatment does not mean a registry entry.

Questions and answers