Alcohol Detox Medication

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When an excessive drinker suddenly stops drinking alcohol, he or she usually suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.  

Some people experience such severe withdrawal symptoms when they quit drinking, however, that they require alcohol detox medication in a hospital or in an alcohol rehab facility that specializes in alcohol detoxification.

Alcohol Detox Medication and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Many alcoholism research scientists and doctors think that individuals who suffer severe alcohol withdrawals and chronic alcoholics who cannot maintain their sobriety are prime candidates to receive alcohol detox medication to control their withdrawal symptoms.

Another reason for the use of drug-oriented detox protocols is that with this type of therapy, alcoholics are less likely to experience possible brain damage and/or seizures.

Current research studies strongly suggest that the drugs with the highest probability of producing effective results when treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the benzodiazepines.

Examples include the longer-acting benzodiazepines such as Valium and Librium and the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Serax.

Historically, when doctors used benzodiazepines to treat alcohol withdrawals, they utilized progressive decreases in the dosage over the time-frame of the withdrawal process from start to finish.

In addition, due to the fact that the shorter-acting benzodiazepines do not stay in the person's body for an excessive period of time and since these drugs allow for measurable dose reductions during the entire withdrawal process, numerous alcoholism researchers as well as doctors have claimed that intermediate to short half-life benzodiazepines should be used in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Medications That Specifically Address A Drinking Relapse

After an individual overcomes his or her withdrawal symptoms, other doctor-prescribed drugs such as naltrexone (ReViaT) or disulfiram (Antabuse) can be prescribed to help prevent the person from returning to drinking after he or she has experienced a drinking relapse.

For example, since Antabuse triggers very unpleasant effects such as dizziness, vomiting, flushing, and nausea, if alcohol is ingested, it has proven to be an effective deterrent to drinking even with those who are chronically addicted.

From a dissimilar perspective, however, Naltrexone (ReViaT) is used in an entirely different way in that it zeros in on brain's reward circuits and reduces the alcoholic's craving for alcohol.  With either drug, fortunately, the individual who has relapsed is receiving medically approved and supervised treatment that will help him or her continue towards the goal of sobriety. 

Alcohol Detox Medication: Inpatient versus Outpatient Status

Alcoholism research scientists have discovered that an inpatient alcohol detox protocol is longer-lasting and more effective than outpatient treatment.  As a consequence, the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient treatment programs will be considered.

Alcohol Detox Medication:  Conclusion

5% of the people who quit drinking alcohol experience horrendous alcohol withdrawal symptoms that require inpatient treatment in a hospital or in an alcohol rehab facility that specializes in alcohol detoxification.  The main "weapons" used to treat these severe withdrawals are alcohol detox medications such as shorter-acting benzodiazepines like Ativan and Serax.

Once the alcohol withdrawal symptoms are under control, the person can then let his or her body rid itself of the alcohol that was ingested.  Other medications such as disulfiram (Antabuse) or naltrexone (ReViaT) can also be used to help prevent the person from returning to drinking after he or she has experienced a drinking relapse.  It is clear that the alcohol detox medication route provides workable treatment options that simply do not exist with many other rehab methodologies. 

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