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Medications Used in Alcohol DetoxificationDuring the alcohol detoxification process, the alcoholic must stop drinking alcohol all at once. In order to help the alcoholic better cope with the withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol detoxification, it is often necessary to take certain medications.
Why are medications used with alcohol detoxification?
The alcohol detoxification process can be very painful on an emotional and a physical level. In some extreme cases, these symptoms can actually be fatal. Medications can be used in order to lessen the severity of these symptoms.
What types of medications are used with alcohol detoxification?
Benzodiazepines are the most commonly used group of drugs for assisting with alcohol detoxification. These drugs are also thought of as mild tranquilizers and bring short-term relief from problems such as insomnia and anxiety. The drugs in this family also have an anticonvulsant and help relax the muscles. Long-lasting benzodiazepines, such as clonazepam and diazepam, are the most popular drugs from this family used with alcohol detoxification.
Some alcohol detoxification facilities also utilize barbiturates to help alcoholics cope with symptoms of withdrawal. This group of drugs works on the central nervous system, acting as a depressant. For this reason, barbiturates act as a mild sedative. Like benzodiazepines, barbiturates also have an anticonvulsant effect.
Are there any negative effects associated with using drugs to assist with alcohol detoxification?
Long-term use of benzodiazepines and barbiturates can lead to tolerance or even addiction. For this reason, the alcoholic is slowly weaned from the drug during the alcohol detoxification process.
How much medication is needed for the detoxification process?
The exact amount of medication necessary depends on the severity of the alcoholism, the person’s weight, and age. After determining the proper dosage, the alcoholic is generally given a dose of benzodiazepine every half hour. The alcoholic will continue to receive a dosage until he or she becomes lightly sedated. After this baseline dosage has been determined, the medication will be given over the next three to ten days.
Some facilities choose to give a standard dosage of the medication and make adjustments based upon the withdrawal symptoms the alcoholic experiences. Yet another option is to hold off on medication until symptoms begin to occur, but this method is generally only used with those that have a mild alcohol addiction.
Is detox all that is necessary to recover from alcoholism?
No, in order to recover for alcoholism, the addict must undergo more than just detox. This is because alcohol detoxification only treats the physical aspect of addiction. In order to truly recover from the addiction, the alcoholic must also undergo psychological treatment and work on understanding the reason the addiction developed in the first place. By working on the psychological reasons for the addiction, the alcoholic can create a plan for better coping with stress and can improve his or her refusal skills.
If an alcoholic only goes through detoxification without also undergoing counseling and psychological care, the chances for relapsing are high. Depending on the severity of the addiction, the alcoholic may be able to undergo this aspect of rehabilitation in on an outpatient basis. If the alcoholic has a severe problem or does not have a solid network of help, the rehab may need to take place on an inpatient basis.
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