Have you come to terms with the fact that you need to remove alcohol from your life? It’s a smart and brave move, but it can come with the fear of going through detox. While most people deal with withdrawal symptoms when detoxing, what you may not know is that several alcohol withdrawal medications can be employed that help ease the process. They can reduce and even eliminate many of the symptoms that come with getting off alcohol. When used, it often means the difference between completing the detox process and giving up on it.
What Are Alcohol Withdrawal Medications For?
There was a time when someone going through alcohol withdrawal did not have options for medications that could help them get through the process. As a result, detox programs and the withdrawal process gained a reputation for being a horrible time when a person had to white-knuckle their way through it while suffering greatly. Unfortunately, this meant many people found detoxing so difficult that they gave up and returned to drinking. With the advent of alcohol withdrawal medications, millions of people can now have a much more comfortable time giving up drinking. These medications can reduce and even eliminate many physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms that occur. This makes the person have an easier time during detox and after, as well as more likely to stay sober.
Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
When someone addicted to alcohol stops drinking, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. Which ones happen varies, depending on how long they’ve been abusing alcohol, how much they typically drank, and their physical and mental health. Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include the following:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sweating
- Racing heart
- Change in blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Delirium Tremens
Additionally, many people develop emotional reactions when going through alcohol withdrawal. This can include feelings of anxiety, depression, irritability, and moodiness.
Alcohol Withdrawal Medications
Several kinds of alcohol withdrawal medications exist, all of which are FDA-approved and safe to use. The attending medical clinician will help determine which kinds may be right for the person to try. They will monitor the effects of the medication and make any necessary changes to dosage or types of meds. The types of medications include:
Acamprosate: Reduces alcohol cravings by affecting the brain’s feeling of dependence on drinking.
Disulfiram: Causes unpleasant side effects if a person drinks alcohol, such as nausea and vomiting. This takes away the pleasure usually felt when drinking.
Naltrexone: Stops the body from feeling euphoric feelings when drinking. When a person can no longer feel drunk, it makes drinking less appealing.
Benzodiazepines: These can be used to combat psychological side effects such as anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.
Antipsychotics: Psychosis can occur for some during detox and can be treated with this type of medication. They can also help reduce anxiety and agitation.
Antidepressants: Help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression that can occur during withdrawal.
Anti-nausea medications: When someone experiences nausea during withdrawal, these can help a great deal in relieving it.
Some of these medications need only be used during the initial detox or early treatment phases. Others can be used on a long-term basis, depending on a person’s needs and reactions to them. The treating physician can help determine if any continued usage of medication is necessary.
Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
When someone makes the brave decision to stop drinking, their first step in getting professional treatment usually involves going to a detoxification program. Detox can be the most challenging part of getting sober because of the withdrawal symptoms that happen. Using alcohol withdrawal medication makes this process easier to get through, setting the person up for moving on to the next step in treatment.
After detox, some people enter an alcohol rehab in Atlanta that provides them with constant care while they live in a facility with others in recovery from addiction. Alternatively, they can enter outpatient care that allows them to receive valuable continuing care while they live at home. Popular outpatient care choices include:
The longer a person takes advantage of formal treatment programs for addiction, the more likely they are to stay sober. Many facets of inpatient rehab and outpatient care can continue long after treatment ends. This includes individual therapy, group therapy, support groups, and holistic therapy options.
Find Alcohol Rehab in Atlanta
Have you reached the end of your rope and feel ready to put alcohol abuse behind you? Buckhead Behavioral Health provides the right treatment for anyone ready to turn the page and get sober. Our outpatient programs include the use of valuable alcohol withdrawal medications that help ease you through the first weeks of living an alcohol-free life. People who use these meds find they experience fewer withdrawal symptoms and have an easier time transitioning from a life of alcoholism to a healthy new one.
Visit our admissions page now and see how easy it is to get started on recovery. We can show you a way out of alcohol addiction that begins today and lasts a lifetime.
