Alcohol Treatment
People who suffer from alcohol abuse disorder have the highest chance of success when they receive medical care offered in alcohol treatment. Alcohol abuse is an incredibly dangerous addiction and self-detox can lead to irreparable damages or death. Additionally, the physical pain caused by withdrawal typically results in the person relapsing to soothe their symptoms. However, medication addiction treatment center’s provide ease the discomfort and prevent life-threatening complications during a medically-assisted detox.
Alcohol Abuse
Throughout the addiction, alcohol is woven into the fabric of the person’s life. Unlike illicit drugs, people associate alcohol with a variety of activities: weddings, family dinners, parties, sporting events, and holidays. In fact, celebrations of all kinds are associated with drinking. As a result, the pattern of drinking alcohol is not easy to break.
The ingrained associations of alcohol within society have resulted in a culture of alcohol consumption. For most Americans, most people in western society, it’s common to experience an early introduction of alcohol— whether through parental figures or media coverage. Unfortunately, the widespread ubiquity and acceptance of casual drinking led to a breeding ground for alcoholism.
Alcohol Withdrawal
The severity of alcohol withdrawal varies from individual to individual— the longer someone abuses alcohol, the worse the withdrawal. Unlike cocaine and nicotine addiction (which may take only a few months to develop), alcoholism can take years to develop. In fact, a person may drink for years before becoming a physically-dependent alcoholic.
The ubiquitous nature of alcohol in society typically results in over-consumption over an extended period of time. Two factors that increase withdrawal are the amount of alcohol consumed and the length of time drinking.
As a result, people that started drinking in their youth have a higher chance of serious complications during withdrawals, such as seizures. Due to the severity of withdrawals, no one with a drinking problem should have to quit on their own. In fact, medically assisted detox within an addiction treatment rehab manages alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Medical Detox
Hospital or inpatient rehabilitation detoxification provides the needed medical care and attention necessary for a safe recovery. Medical detox procedures include fluids, vitamins, rest, sedation to ease the symptoms. Additionally, other medications control the potential toxic effects of withdrawal, such as delirium tremens (DTs). DTs are a form of alcoholic psychosis characterized by extreme anxiety, trembling, sweating, upset stomach, and chest pain.
Another more frequent need for residential rehabilitation detoxification is the potential of a grand mal seizure during alcohol detoxification. It is vital to receive medical care during alcohol detoxification because grand mal seizures almost always result in death. Alcohol and benzodiazepine are the two most potentially lethal drugs to withdrawal from. Other drugs that require medically assisted detox due to their dangerous withdrawals include oxycodone, fentanyl, and carfentanil. Medical alcohol detoxification begins when the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal have peaked, usually within hours of the last drink.
Detox Meds in Alcohol Treatment
Medication-assisted detoxification with a detox-dispensed medicine such as Librium or pregabalin is a must with alcohol dependence. Medical detoxification with a concurrent alcohol dependence recovery therapy program is your ticket to ride sustained-recovery, as long as you leave the driving to the pros.
Librium
Unfortunately, by the time most people receive a medical detox, alcohol consumption has destroyed the liver. For this reason, a benzodiazepine, Librium (chlordiazepoxide) minimally affects the liver, making it a quality medication for alcohol detox. Thankfully, patients can measure how well their body is detoxifying through improvements in mood, drops in physical pain, and increased liver enzyme count. Remember, two beers daily for one week can show measurable liver changes.
Lyrica
Additionally, there are also non-narcotic medicines such as Lyrica (pregabalin) that are great alcohol detox options. Non-narcotic medicines are beneficial to recovery because they don’t run the risk of replacement addictions such as Librium addiction. Lyrica helps those suffering from alcohol addiction reduce the risk of lethal side effects such as seizures. It treats withdrawal symptoms and provides recovering people with a clear mind to focus on recovery.
Antabuse
Occasionally, the prescription medication Antabuse (disulfiram) treats alcohol withdrawal symptoms in brief periods. Like any other detox medication, Antabuse only treats the patient’s withdrawals to help maintain sobriety while receiving other forms of supportive and psychological treatment. Librium, pregabalin, Antabuse, and other medication-assisted detox and rehabilitation prescription without other forms of recovery-sensitive supportive and therapy treatment may be flirting with relapse or death.
Antabuse can also be useful after detox because it discourages alcohol consumption. In fact, extremely unpleasant symptoms arise following the mixing of Antabuse and alcohol. You should only take Antabuse under close medical supervision and for a short period of time. By no means is Antabuse a cure for alcoholism. This is because it is unlikely that any medication alone will have a long-term effect on the drinking patterns of the alcoholic.
Contact Our Alcohol Treatment Specialists
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance abuse problem, please reach out to our addiction specialists for guidance and support, at (877)-RECOVERY or (888)-719-3990. Our addiction specialists make themselves available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because We Care.
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