Tell Me More About Alcohol Dependence.
2. What are the physical treatments of Alcohol Dependence?
In cases where a person has severe Alcohol Dependence, it is necessary for the person to detoxify, which involves totally stopping alcohol and working through the withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification is usually done in a hospital setting. The patient may require sleeping pills to keep him or her in a sleepy state for 2 or 3 days until the withdrawal symptoms reach controllable levels. Then the treatment can begin.
Medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms include anti-anxiety medications such as Benzodiazepines (BZs) (Valium, Librium), which can help reduce shaking and hallucinating (called delirium tremens). These medications are used only for the first few days because they are highly addictive. Other medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms include anti-convulsants (such as Carbamazepine) to reduce seizures, and anti-nausea medications (such as Phenergan).
Medications can also be used to help people remain sober. Some of these drugs, such as opioid antagonists, reduce the craving for alcohol. Another medication, Disulfiram (Antabuse®), discourages drinking by making the person feel sick if he or she drinks alcohol. Though several medications help treat alcoholism, there is no single medication that works in every case. Developing new and more effective medications to treat alcoholism remains a high priority for researchers.
Reference:
Medications and Alcohol Craving, Robert M. Swift, M.D., Ph.D., National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Alcohol Research & Health Publication, Volume 23, Number 3, 1999.
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