Medications Used During Medical Alcohol Detox
Medical alcohol detox is a crucial first step in the recovery process for those struggling with alcohol addiction. This type of detox provides round-the-clock support and monitoring to ensure the safety of the patient.
Patients must clear their schedules and eliminate alcohol from their homes prior to beginning detox. They should also follow nutritious meals to supply the body with the necessary nutrients during this period.
Medications
Medical detox is a safe method of eliminating harmful substances from the body under the supervision of a team of highly skilled medical professionals. The team is typically comprised of doctors, nurses and therapists, although some facilities also employ advanced practice personnel such as physician assistants or nurse practitioners. Medical detox can be used to treat a variety of addictions, including alcohol and opioid use disorder.
During the detox phase, drugs are usually administered to help manage your withdrawal symptoms and cravings for alcohol or drugs. They aren't necessary for everyone however for certain people they can make the process of detox easier and less uncomfortable.
Benzodiazepines are among the most common medications prescribed during an alcohol detox. They are sedatives that can be taken orally and intravenously. Chlordiazepoxide, also known as Valium and Lirium, are the most common benzodiazepines. These drugs can be used for up to 3 days or as needed.
Another medication that is often used during detox for alcohol is the naltrexone. This medication binds to the opioid receptors in your brain, and inhibits the high feeling that you get from morphine, heroin or other painkillers. Naltrexone can be consumed in pills or injectable.
If you suffer from underlying or co-occurring psychiatric issues your physician or nurse may prescribe antipsychotic medication during detox. These medications can help to reduce and manage psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions or hearing voices.
Inpatient or Outpatient
If you have a severe addiction to alcohol, inpatient treatment could be required. Inpatient treatment takes place at a rehab facility and provides the opportunity to concentrate on your recovery. Inpatient programs are usually run for thirty days, sixty or ninety days. During this time, you will live in a treatment facility and will be monitored round the clock by medical experts.
You'll be separated from your family, friends working, and other activities during inpatient treatment It is crucial to prepare for this kind of treatment. Make sure that you have your finances in order and that you can manage your children or other responsibilities prior to your scheduled start date. Inpatient care is more expensive than outpatient.
Outpatient treatment may be less restrictive for those with mild addictions and stable schedules at work, home or at school. Outpatient treatment can include a partial hospitalization or day treatment. These programs require a specific number of hours per week at a rehabilitation clinic or a hospital. These groups also provide outpatient treatment options and are more flexible.
You can choose between inpatient or outpatient treatment based on your specific situation. The best treatment option for you will depend upon the degree of your addiction to alcohol, as well as whether or not it is associated with mental health issues. A professional can assist you determine what level of care and treatment is most suitable for your recovery.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are commonly employed to ease withdrawal symptoms during the phase of detoxification in alcohol treatment. These medications help to calm the central nervous system and are also used to treat insomnia, anxiety and muscle spasms. During medical alcohol detox the drugs are prescribed in either short-acting or longer-acting forms. It is important to know that benzodiazepines are dangerous when used in conjunction with certain medications and may even cause death if they are not monitored and treated appropriately. For instance, they could be harmful when combined with opioid pain medication like hydrocodone and oxycodone. They can also cause a fatal reaction known as benzodiazepine intoxication when mixed with other depressants.
Benzodiazepines can be used in both an inpatient and an outpatient setting to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. They can help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and prevent seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal, which occur in a range of 1 to 4 percent of those withdrawing from alcoholic beverages (Schuckit 1995). There are many types of benzodiazepines that are available in the market, including short-acting ones like alprazolam (Xanax) and Clobazam (Onfi, Sympazan), intermediate-acting substances like diazepam (Valium) and clorazepate (Tranxene), and long-acting drugs such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and flurazepam (Dalmane). It is recommended that benzodiazepine is utilized in withdrawal from alcohol using symptom-triggered therapy. This makes it difficult to build up the drug and toxic effects to take place.
Anticonvulsants
Acamprosate is used in a complete treatment program to help people stay in recovery. This medication is believed to reduce alcohol cravings and has been associated with longer time periods without drinking. It also aids in withdrawal. It's typically started when a person is finished with detox, but some individuals begin acamprosate while still in detox based on their physician's recommendations.
Anticonvulsants work in different ways by controlling brain signals to prevent seizures. They are prescribed by doctors, and include the drugs valproic (Depakene), Phenobarbital (Tegretol), and carbamazepine. They could cause liver damage if used for a long time, so it is important to have regular blood tests to keep track of this. These medications also decrease the number of blood platelets and make it harder for you to form clots. Valproic acid shouldn't be taken by women who are pregnant because it increases the risk of birth defects or harm to a child who is not born.
Anticonvulsant medication is also used to treat anxiety, depression and sleep disorders such as insomnia. They can be very effective in treating many mental health issues because they regulate chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Sometimes, they are utilized to replace benzodiazepines in cases where the patient is resistant. They are used to treat a chronic alcohol use disorder, in conjunction with other therapies, such as motivational interviews.
Antipsychotics
Some people are afflicted with extreme withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations or delirium if they try to quit drinking on their own. The medicines used during medical detox can help reduce those symptoms, and avoid other serious complications such as seizures and heart palpitations. These drugs can also help maintain the body's chemical balance during the detoxification process, which reduces the chance of relapses or other problems.
Alcohol detox is typically performed in a rehab center where you'll receive care all the time. Inpatient detox programs typically combine treatment for addiction to medical drugs with detox, so you'll start the recovery process by receiving treatment for your alcohol dependence disorder as well as your addiction to alcohol or drugs. This combination of detox and treatment is referred to as MAT (medication assisted therapy). In MAT, you'll probably use antidepressants such as SSRIs or sedatives like benzodiazepines in order to reduce your cravings. You could be prescribed a drug such as propranolol or Clonidine to treat withdrawal symptoms.
Research has proven that MAT is just as effective in treating alcohol-related disorder as it is with other substances, such as opioids and benzodiazepines. In fact, studies have shown that outpatients who receive MAT treatment achieve the same rates of sobriety as inpatients. However, the setting you choose for your detox program shouldn't be the deciding factor in your overall recovery. In home detox from alcohol , a significant number of patients had their detox completed in an inpatient setting as opposed to an outpatient setting.
Relapse Prevention
If a person is medically detoxing from alcohol and other drugs, relapse prevention programs should be a priority. The program helps the individual discover more about their addiction and how to handle any triggers which could cause them to drink alcohol to deal with the stress. This may include identifying the things that are most important to them during their recovery like staying on track with their work, maintaining healthy relationships, meeting the requirements of their job and working towards personal goals.
During this process the individual will be able to recognize any negative feelings that arise, like stress or boredom. These feelings are often the ones that lead to substance use. They will be taught to identify people or places that can trigger cravings, like family gatherings and parties where alcohol is present. This information will later be used to devise a plan that helps them stay sober in these circumstances.
This plan usually involves an array of strategies. These include finding distractions, having an escape strategy in case the urge to drink becomes too strong, and learning strategies to cope such as walking or breathing techniques to lessen anxiety. In some instances, a person will be referred to a drug rehab after detoxification to continue treatment and learn these strategies.