MMan at window thinking about alcohol withdrawal medicationending an addiction to alcohol starts with a detox, which will initiate withdrawal. Although a withdrawal from alcohol can be unpleasant, there are a number of alcohol withdrawal medication options that can improve the experience for patients by lessening symptoms and decreasing discomfort. The best recovery and treatment facilities will understand the potential for these medications and offer them when the situation is right:

Topamax

This medication is authorized by the FDA for the treatment of seizures, but it has shown to be effective as an alcohol withdrawal medication. Topamax can help to reduce the symptoms of abstinence from alcohol. Those in a alcohol detox program may use Topamax in the first week of detox, as well as throughout the first 14 weeks of sobriety.

Antabuse

Many detox facilities use the most common alcohol withdrawal medication, Antabuse. This medication has been used in the treatment of alcoholism for more than five decades. Essentially, Antabuse works by preventing the body from absorbing alcohol. If individuals drink even a small amount of alcohol, there won’t be any available enzymes to break it down.

Patients who take Antabuse experience unpleasant side effects when they drink alcohol. Some of the most common include the following:

  • Flushing
  • Temperature regulation issues
  • Nausea
  • Rapid heart beat

Antabuse can be used as an extra precautionary layer during outpatient rehab or when patients are in social situations. For this reason, it’s more commonly implemented during PAWS, or protracted alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Campral

One of the most effective alcohol withdrawal medication options is Campral. This medication communicates with the brain’s chemical messenger systems and can actually eliminate some of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Campral is a medication that needs to be taken orally three times per day. Because of the nature of the drug, it should be administered by a medical professional in a rehab setting. Once taken, Campral can improve the likelihood of lasting sobriety by eliminating things like anxiety, insomnia and mood swings, all of which are present during an extended withdrawal from alcohol.

Naltrexone

The drug Naltrexone is one that does double duty by reducing the pleasure that alcoholics receive from drinking and by blocking common cravings. Naltrexone is not used in rehab centers where abstinence, not moderation, is the primary goal.

Over-the-Counter Alcohol Withdrawal Medication

All of the drugs listed above are used as alcohol medication options to help patients. In many rehab facilities, however, patients can be just as successful with milder alternatives. Ordinary, over-the-counter medications and basic healthcare essentials can go a long way in minimizing the discomfort of withdrawal and helping patients increase their chance of a successful sobriety.

In some rehab centers, basic painkillers can be an immediate and effective way to end migraines or reduce abdominal cramping. Prescribed sedatives sometimes help patients sleep. They can be helpful for patients with alcohol withdrawal symptoms who sometimes suffer from the combination of insomnia, restlessness and fatigue.

Because of problems like extreme sweating, dehydration is another typical problem for patients in a withdrawal from alcohol. Thankfully, there are several alcohol withdrawal medication options to alleviate any discomfort from dehydration. Electrolyte tablets, salt pills, electrolyte replacement beverages and even intravenously administered fluids can all make a tremendous difference for patients.

Alcohol withdrawal medication options can help patients who are trying to achieve and then maintain their sobriety for the long term. Rather than self-administering medications, however, patients should rely on the expertise of staff members at facilities like Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, Florida. Call 8666050532 for details on recovery options and the best way to end your addiction.