Medications Used During Medical Alcohol Detox
Medical detoxification of alcohol is the first step towards recovery for those who are struggling with alcoholism. This type of detox offers round-the-clock monitoring and support to ensure safety and ease of use.
Patients should take care to clear their schedules and eliminate alcohol from their homes prior to beginning detox. They should also follow an appropriate diet during this time to supply the body with essential nutrients.
Medicines
Medical detox is a secure way to eliminate toxic substances from your body while under the supervision of a knowledgeable team of medical professionals. The team is usually made by nurses, physicians and therapists. However certain facilities employ advanced practice staff such as physician's assistants or nurse practitioners. Medical detox is a method to treat a variety of addictions, including alcohol and opioid use disorder.
During the detox phase, medication is often prescribed to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings for drugs or alcohol. They aren't necessary for every patient, but for some people they can make the detox process much easier and less uncomfortable.
Benzodiazepines are one of the most common medications prescribed during an alcohol detox. These are sedatives which can be taken either orally or intravenously. The most commonly used benzodiazepines are chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and diazepam (Valium). These medications can be administered for up to three days, or on a regular basis.
Another medication that is sometimes used in detox for alcohol is the naltrexone. in home alcohol detox binds to opioid receptors in your brain, and blocks the high you get from heroin, morphine or other painkillers. Naltrexone is available in the form of a pill or an injection.
If you suffer from underlying or co-occurring psychiatric issues your physician or nurse might prescribe antipsychotic medications during detox. These medications can decrease and control psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions or hearing voices.
Inpatient or Outpatient
Inpatient treatment is essential for those suffering from a serious addiction to alcohol. Inpatient treatment takes place in a rehab center and offers the chance to concentrate solely on your recovery. Inpatient programs generally run for thirty, sixty or ninety days. In this time you will be in a facility for treatment and be monitored round all hours by medical professionals.
Inpatient treatment can isolate you from your family, friends, work and other pursuits. It is essential to be prepared for this kind of situation. Before you begin treatment ensure that you have the care of your children and other responsibilities taken care of and that your finances are in order. Inpatient care is usually more expensive than outpatient treatment.
Outpatient treatment may be less restrictive for those with mild addictions and stable schedules at work, home or school. Outpatient treatment could include partial hospitalization, day treatment or other options. These programs need a certain number of hours each week at a rehabilitation clinic or a hospital. Continuing care groups can be outpatient treatments however they are also more flexible.
Depending on the situation You can choose between inpatient or outpatient treatment for your alcohol dependence. The best option for you will depend on the degree of your addiction and whether it is accompanied by other mental health issues or co-occurring disorders. A professional can assist you determine the appropriate level of care and program is the best for your recovery.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are commonly used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms during the detox phase of alcohol treatment. These medications help to calm the central nervous system and can also be used to treat insomnia, anxiety and muscle spasms. During medical alcohol detox they are prescribed in short-acting or long-acting forms. It is vital to keep in mind that benzodiazepines can be dangerous when taken with some drugs. They can even cause death if not monitored and treated correctly. They may, for instance, interact negatively with opioid pain medications such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. They can also cause an fatal reaction known as benzodiazepine toxicity if mixed with depressants.
Benzodiazepines are used in both an inpatient and an outpatient setting to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. They can reduce the severity and frequency of withdrawal symptoms and can also help prevent seizures triggered by alcohol withdrawal. These seizures are estimated to occur in between 1 and 4 percent (Schuckit 1995) of people who are withdrawing from alcohol. There are many kinds of benzodiazepines, such as short-acting drugs like alprazolam and clobazam, intermediate-acting medicines like diazepam and clorazepate, and long-acting drugs like flurazepam and chlordiazepoxide. It is recommended that benzodiazepine should be used in alcohol withdrawal with the help of a symptom-triggered therapy. This makes it harder for the buildup of drug and toxic effects to take place.
Anticonvulsants
Acamprosate and other medications are employed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to help patients remain in recovery. This medication can reduce cravings for alcohol and is associated with longer periods of abstinence from drinking. It also assists with withdrawal. It's typically started after a person finishes detox, but some individuals begin acamprosate while still in detox based upon their physician's recommendations.
Anticonvulsants are medications that are used in a variety of ways to stop seizures by regulating brain signals. These medications are often prescribed by doctors, and include the drugs valproic (Depakene), the phenobarbital (Tegretol) and carbamazepine. They can cause liver damage if long-term, so it's crucial to get regular blood tests to keep track of this. These medications can also decrease the amount of platelets present in your blood, which makes it difficult for your body to make clots. Valproic acid should not be used by women who are pregnant because it increases the risk of birth defect or harm to a child who is not born.
Anticonvulsant medication is also used to treat anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders like insomnia. They are very effective at treating mental health problems because they can balance chemical imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine and Melatonin. Sometimes, they are used to replace benzodiazepines when the patient is resistant. They can be used to treat a chronic alcohol use disorder in combination with other treatments like motivational interviews.
Antipsychotics
Some people experience extreme withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations and dizziness when they stop drinking alcohol for a long time. The medicines that are used during withdrawal from medical alcohol can reduce these symptoms and prevent other serious issues like seizures and heart palpitations. These medications can also maintain the body's balance of chemicals during the detoxification process, which reduces the chance of relapse and other problems.
Alcohol detox typically takes place in an inpatient rehabilitation facility which provides 24/7 support during the process. Inpatient detox programs combine treatment for addiction to medical drugs and detox. This means that you'll begin your recovery by receiving care for your alcohol-related disorder as well as your dependence on drugs or alcohol. This combination of treatment and detox is known as MAT (medication-assisted therapy). During MAT you will likely use antidepressants such as SSRIs or sedatives, such as benzodiazepines to control your cravings. You might also be prescribed a medication like propranolol or Clonidine to treat withdrawal symptoms.
Research has demonstrated that MAT can be equally effective in treating alcohol dependence disorder, as other substances like benzodiazepines and opioids. In fact, studies have revealed that outpatients who undergo MAT treatment have the same sobriety rates as inpatients. However, the type of setting you choose for your detox should not be the deciding factor in your overall recovery. In one study, a large number of patients completed detoxification in an inpatient environment compared to an outpatient setting.
Relapse Prevention
When a person is medically detoxing from alcohol and other drugs, relapse prevention programs should be recommended. The program helps the individual to understand their addiction and how to deal with any triggers that could make them drink alcohol to deal with the stress. This might include identifying what is the most important to the person in their recovery, for example, keeping an occupation and maintaining healthy relationships as well as keeping up with obligations.
During this process the individual will learn to recognize any negative feelings that arise, like boredom or stress. These feelings can lead to substance use. They will be encouraged to pinpoint places or people which may trigger cravings like family gatherings and parties where alcohol is present. The information they provide will be used to create an effective plan to stay sober in these scenarios.
This strategy is usually a combination of strategies, including finding distractions to focus on and having an exit plan in case the urge drink becomes too strong and learning coping techniques like walking or using breathing techniques to control anxiety. In certain instances the person may be referred to rehab for addiction following detoxification to keep the treatment going and learn these strategies.