How Medications Can Help Addiction Treatment
There are many drugs which are used in addiction treatment programs to relieve withdrawal side effects and decrease the chances of relapse. In some cases, use of medicine assists users to keep away from the addictive substances. When the withdrawal side effects are too much then sometimes users surrender and stop taking medications and relapse. In many inpatient and outpatient treatment centres, medications are part of the addiction treatment program. In order to provide the best possibility of accomplishing sobriety, doctors might adapt medication doses during the progress of treatment.
Some medicines can imitate the symptoms of habit-forming drugs, which alleviates withdrawal effects and cravings.
Drug Withdrawal And Detoxification
The user need to get free themselves from the drug in the early stage of recovery. This process is referred to as detoxification. It depends on the drug that how last the detox will be, for some days or some weeks.
The hardest part of detoxification is having to deal with withdrawal symptoms. The harshness of withdrawal effects changes depending on past drug use. The ones that were using opiates in high dosages for a long-term have the worst side effects.
During the detox process, the former drug addicts pass through many painful side effects. These are some side effects
- Feeling anxious
- Hopelessness
- Vomiting
- Fits
- Muscle pain
- Sweating
Different medicines are prescribed to help various withdrawal side effects. The medicines which are given by doctors in detox are
- Benzodiazepines
- These drugs decrease nervousness and irritability.
- Anxiety is a prevalent withdrawal side effect from a lot of Opiates, such as Cocaine and Heroin.
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can also be eased by the sedative effect of Benzodiazepines.
- Since the benzos are potentially addictive too, doctors prescribe them with care.
- Antidepressants
- An addict's brain is usually accustomed to producing dopamine only in the presence of a drug.
- It is common with the people in detox to feel depressed as they have been using drugs for a much longer period to keep themselves happy.
- To avoid such feelings till the time the brain itself starts producing happiness-inducing chemicals, Zoloft and Prozac (antidepressants) should be used.
- Clonidine
- For relief of sweating, aching muscles, cramps and paranoia in alcohol and opiate withdrawal Clonidine is used.
- Clonidine save you from seizures and shivering.
People recovering from alcohol, Valium or Xanax addiction should never try to quit on their own since detoxing from alcohol or benzodiazepines can lead to death. Withdrawal from other Opiates aren't constantly deadly, however difficult situations can still appear. Detoxifying under medical supervision makes sure things are done right and raises the chances of beating the addiction.
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Medications For Treating Alcohol Withdrawal
Regular abusers of alcohol can suffer prolonged withdrawal symptoms that can last for weeks or even months. This occurrence is known as prolong or post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
Maintenance treatment can alleviate PAWS and can curb cravings or make the addict incapable to take alcohol. This type of medication is usually in the form of a tablet taken each day.
Such medications for treating alcohol dependency are
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
- Naltrexone has the ability to impasse receptors that generates the feeling of content with alcohol in the brain.
- The urge to drink can be reduced.
- Sickness and migraine are cause by Naltrexone.
- It can be given via injection once every four weeks.
- Acamprosate (Campral)
- The physical and emotional distress caused by alcohol dependency can be eased using this drug.
- Once completing the detox, recovery from alcohol can use Acamprosate.
- Acamprosate works by eliminating the worse feelings of nervousness and hopelessness that results in lessening the desire to drink.
- Disulfiram (Antabuse)
- The first drug to be approved for treatment of alcohol addiction was Disulfiram.
- Disulfiram causes sickness and vomiting if alcohol is consumed at the same time.
- It was hoped that the fact that taking alcohol would make them sick would prevent the recovering addicts from drinking.
You can find out more about medication used in treating alcohol addiction.
Medications For Opiate And Heroin Addiction
Heroin, Morphine and narcotic painkillers like Oxycontin are all Opiates. The cravings and withdrawal symptoms of recovering from opiate addiction can be eased by some medications. These medications are taken daily in the form of orally ingestible pills.
Some recovering addicts only go through withdrawal from Heroin and Opiate drugs for just a week. Long- term withdrawal symptoms can be experienced by some people. Withdrawal symptoms can last for months or even years for some people. To completely stop the urges to take drugs and the PAWS, it helps to be on replacement medicines for an extended period. Ex-patients can use these medicines as long as they want.
Addiction medicines for Heroin and painkillers are
- Methadone
- Prescriptions of Methadone are usually given to people suffering from moderate or severe addictions.
- Methadone doesn't cause intoxication but it binds onto the same brain receptors as opiates and prevents further use of drugs to get the high feeling.
- This drug suppressing the craving and withdrawal symptoms.
- Methadone can become addictive so it is used with caution.
- Every day, many doses of Methadone are dispensed by Methadone clinics.
- Find out more information about Methadone.
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone)
- Buprenorphine works in a similar way to Methadone but does not need to be as closely regulated due to the possibility of addiction is far less.
- For Buprenorphine it is not necessary to go clinic and get it regularly, the patient can also take it at home.
- Naltrexone
- Naltrexone is for both opiate addiction and alcohol addiction.
- This drug helps to control the urge or craving.
- Some of the brain receptors activated by alcohol and opiates are the same and this is why this drug works for both addictions.
Medical Detox And Rehabilitation
It is possible to detox at home. This isn't just more difficult, it is also more risky than a medical detoxing. To gain sobriety with no added health issues or risk of relapsing, a medically supervised detox is the best and safest mode. Medical detoxification is necessary for people dependent on alcohol or Benzodiazepines.
Detox in a safe and comfortable environment if the first step to sobriety.
Health complications are avoided in a medical detox program. The treating therapist monitors a rehab patient's vital signs like pulse, temperature, breathing rate and fluid levels in a medically supervised treatment. Medical staff are on hand to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Doctors adjust the medication for long-term program and as per the need of patients.
Medically supervised detoxification is also important for people with other health problems. High blood pressure is one of the problem of withdrawals. A doctor may avoid any problems.
In residential rehabilitation, detoxification is always part of the program. In some circumstances, inpatient rehabilitation takes from 30 to 90 days. The initial week comprised of closely observed detox. Treatment in rehab centres also incorporates psychological counselling for an all round recovery.
Find a rehabilitation with medical detoxification today for you or someone you care about that needs assistance to accomplish sobriety call .