Treatments for Alcoholism

When an alcoholic already accepts that indeed he or she is depending too much on alcohol to push through with life, then treatment should be considered seriously and discussed with the patient. Treatment for alcoholism varies depending on the degree of dependence and the reasons why the patient succumb to or become addicted to alcohol.  

Treatment programs vary but actually are grounded on three parts: alcohol detox process, counseling and aftercare. The intensity and the duration of each program as well as the venue for healing will also be dependent on the case and the preference of family members. Others prefer to house in their homes the patient while still others enroll or place their loved ones in a private rehabilitation center.

Treatment for alcoholism apart from employing counseling, also uses medicines that usually function to reduce the cravings especially after the detox process. Since treatment included ceasing of alcohol intake, the need to shut down the system to crave it should also be addressed. There are three medicines commonly used to arrest craving among dependent patients: Naltrexone, Antabuse and Campral.

Naltrexone – sold under the brand name Revia and Depade. It is assumed to affect the neural pathways where the neurotransmitter dopamine is present. It is usually in tablet form taken once daily. The medicine is to be taken for duration of 12 weeks. This medicine is not recommended for patients with problems on their kidneys or liver. Further, it is also not recommended for pregnant women and anyone who has allergies to any content of the drug. As treatment for alcoholism, side effects upon taking this drug include muscle and joint pain, anxiety, upset stomach ranging from mild to sever manifestations. Naltrexone is used for people who stopped drinking alcohol and help them continue abstinence.

Antabuse – Also known as, disulfiram was the first medicine approved to be used for treatment of alcoholism. It is given to people who want to stop drinking by creating or producing negative effects whenever that person is drinking alcoholic beverages. When a patient takes antabuse he or she is going to experience copious vomiting, difficulty in breathing , palpitation, pains in the chest, throbbing pain, syncope and throbbing pain in the head. This should not be taken with patients that have severe heart ailment, psychosis and allergies to chemical content of antabuse.

Campral – this is the recently approved medication used in treatment for alcoholism and acts to maintain abstinence by restoring a chemical balance in the brain, which has been put off by chronic abuse. It decreases distress and emotional discomfort of people who stopped drinking. It is given in tablet form (333 mg) and is taken thrice daily. Side effects are mild but may be severe in other patients include loss of appetite, dizziness, itching, insomnia, dry mouth, sweating, joint and muscle pain. Campral is not advised to be taken by persons who have depression or suicidal thoughts, breastfeeding moms, pregnant women, those with allergies to dyes or preservatives and allergies to the contents of campral. This medicine helps maintain abstinence for people who stopped drinking and reduce sleep disturbances in recovering patients.

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