Medications Used During Medical Alcohol Detox
Medical alcohol detox is a crucial first step to recovery for people struggling with alcohol addiction. This kind of detox provides 24/7 monitoring and assistance to ensure safety and security.
Before starting the detox, patients should clean their schedules. They should also get rid of all alcohol from their homes. They should also consume nutritious food during this time to supply the body with the necessary nutrients.
home detox from alcohol is a safe method to eliminate toxic substances from the body under the supervision of a group of highly skilled medical professionals. The team typically consists up of physicians, nurses and therapists. However, some facilities use advanced practice staff such as physician's assistants or nurse practitioners. Medical detox is a treatment for many addictions, like opioid and alcohol disorder.
In the detox phase, medications are often administered to help manage your withdrawal symptoms and cravings for drugs or alcohol. They aren't necessary for every patient but for certain individuals they can make the detox process more comfortable and less uncomfortable.
One of the most frequently prescribed medications during the detox process for alcohol is benzodiazepines. They are sedatives that can be consumed orally or intravenously. Chlordiazepoxide is also known as Valium and Lirium are the most well-known benzodiazepines. These medications can be taken for up to 3 days or as long as.
Naltrexone is a different medication that can be used to cleanse alcohol. It binds to opioid receptors in your brain and reduces the feeling of high that you get from heroin, morphine or other painkillers. Naltrexone can be taken in pills or injectable.
If you have underlying or co-occurring psychiatric problems your physician or nurse may prescribe antipsychotic medication during detox. These medications can help reduce and control psychotic signs like hallucinations, delusions or hearing voices.
Inpatient or Outpatient
Inpatient treatment is essential in the case of a severe addiction to alcohol. Inpatient treatment is offered in a rehab facility and lets you focus on your recovery. Inpatient programs typically last for thirty or sixty days. During this time, you will live in a medical facility and will be monitored round all hours by medical specialists.
You'll be away from your loved ones, family as well as work and other activities during the hospital It is crucial to be prepared for this kind of treatment. Before you start, make sure you have care for your children or other obligations taken care of and that your finances are in order. Inpatient care can be more expensive than outpatient.
Outpatient treatment is less limiting and is a good option for those suffering from mild addictions who have stable homes or school/work schedules. Outpatient treatment could be a combination of partial hospitalization and day treatment. These programs require a specific number of hours per week at the rehab or hospital. Continuing care groups can be outpatient treatment however they are more flexible.
You can select between inpatient and outpatient treatment depending on your specific situation. The best treatment for you will depend upon the severity of your alcohol addiction, as well as whether or not it is accompanied by mental health issues. A professional can help determine what level of care and treatment is most suitable for your recovery.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms during the phase of detoxification in alcohol treatment. These medications calm the central nervous systems and are used to treat anxiety and insomnia. They can be prescribed as short-acting or longer-acting during medical alcohol detox. It is vital to keep in mind that benzodiazepines are dangerous when used in conjunction with other medications. They may even cause death if they are not monitored and treated correctly. For instance, they may interfere negatively with opioid pain medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone. They can also cause a fatal reaction known as benzodiazepine intoxication if mixed with other depressants.
Benzodiazepines are very effective at reducing withdrawal symptoms in alcohol detox. They can be administered both in outpatient and inpatient settings. They can aid in reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms and prevent seizures due to alcohol withdrawal that occur in an estimated 1 to 4 percent of people who are withdrawing from alcoholic beverages (Schuckit 1995). There are a variety of benzodiazepines, such as short-acting medications like alprazolam and clobazam, intermediate-acting medicines like diazepam and clorazepate, as well as long-acting drugs such as flurazepam and chlordiazepoxide. Symptom-triggered therapy is generally preferred for benzodiazepine usage in patients suffering from alcohol withdrawal due to the fact that it makes it harder for the drug to accumulate and become toxic.
Anticonvulsants
Acamprosate is utilized in an extensive treatment program designed to help people remain in recovery. This medication is believed to decrease cravings for alcohol and has been associated with longer periods without drinking. It also helps with withdrawal symptoms. It's typically started after a person finishes detox, but some individuals begin acamprosate while still in detox based on their physician's recommendations.
Anticonvulsants perform different functions to prevent seizures by controlling brain signals. They are prescribed by a physician and include the valproic (Depakene) as well as Phenobarbital (Tegretol) and carbamazepine. They can cause liver damage if used for a long time, so it is important to get regular blood tests to keep track of this. These drugs can also reduce the amount of blood platelets and make it harder for you to make clots. Valproic acid should not be taken by women who are pregnant because it increases the risk of birth defect or harm to the unborn child.
Anticonvulsant drugs are also used to treat anxiety and depression as well as sleep disorders like insomnia. They are very effective at treating mental health conditions, because they can balance the chemical imbalances in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and melatonin. Sometimes, they are used to replace benzodiazepines if the patient is not responding. They can be used to treat chronic alcohol abuse disorder when combined with other therapies such as motivational interviewing.
Antipsychotics
Some people experience extreme withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations and delirium if they quit drinking alcohol for a long time. Medications used during medical alcohol detox can reduce these symptoms, and prevent other serious complications like seizures and heart palpitations. These medications also help keep the body's chemical balance during the detoxification process, which reduces the chance of relapse and other problems.
The process of detoxing from alcohol is usually carried out in an inpatient rehabilitation facility where you'll receive 24-hour assistance during the process. Inpatient detox programs often combine treatment for addiction to medical drugs with detox, which means you'll start the recovery process by receiving treatment for your alcohol dependence disorder as well as the dependence you have on drugs or alcohol. This combination of treatment with detox is known as MAT (medication-assisted therapy). In MAT, you'll probably use antidepressants, such as SSRIs or sedatives like benzodiazepines to reduce your cravings. You may also use medications to treat your withdrawal symptoms, such as clonidine or propranolol.
Research has found that MAT is as effective for treating alcohol dependence as it is for other drugs like benzodiazepines and opioids. In fact, studies have revealed that outpatients who receive MAT treatment can achieve the same rates of sobriety as inpatients. However, the type of setting you choose for your detox treatment shouldn't be a deciding factor for your overall recovery. In one study, significantly more people completed detox in an inpatient setting than an outpatient setting.
Relapse Prevention
If someone is medically detoxing from alcohol, relapse prevention programs will be encouraged. This program helps the individual to understand their addiction and how to deal with any triggers that could lead them into drinking alcohol to cope. This could include identifying the things that are most important to them during their recovery like keeping their job and establishing healthy relationships, meeting obligations, and achieving personal goals.
During this process the person will be taught to recognize any negative feelings that may be triggered, such as stress or boredom which could result in substance abuse. They will also be encouraged to identify any people or places that might induce cravings, such as events or family gatherings at which alcohol may be present. This information will later be used to develop a plan that helps them remain sober in these scenarios.
This strategy usually consists of an array of strategies. These include finding ways to distract yourself, having an escape plan in case the urge to drink gets too strong, and learning coping behaviors like walking, or breathing techniques to ease anxiety. In certain instances people will be referred to drug rehab following detoxification to continue treatment and to learn these strategies.