Alcohol Withdrawal Treatments for Patients
Alcohol is one of the hardest drugs to detox from due to its related withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, treatments are often used to help relieve the discomfort associated with withdrawal. These treatments also make sure that more serious complications do not occur during the detox process.
Supportive Care
Supportive care is the first treatment option for any patient going through detox. Supportive care involves a full physical exam to determine what health issues may cause withdrawal symptoms to be more severe (such as high blood pressure or epilepsy). These issues are then treated in conjunction with the alcohol withdrawal treatments to help lessen the effects of the overall withdrawal process.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are the first line of pharmaceutical intervention for withdrawal treatments. Benzodiazepines such as Valium are commonly used as sedatives to help reduce the pain and discomfort associated with alcohol withdrawal. This helps increase the chances of a successful detox.
Adrenergic Prescriptions
Adrenergic prescription medications may also help in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are largely caused by the nervous system. Adrenergic medications work by altering the functions of adrenergic receptors in the body, which in turn causes a reduction in severity in withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, anxiety, restlessness, irritability and the like.
Anti-Seizure Medications
One of the most common serious withdrawal symptom that may occur during an alcohol detox is seizure. To help prevent and control this effect, anti-seizure medications, such as Tegretol and valproic acid, may be used. This practice is more common in Europe, as benzodiazepines are often enough to help prevent seizures from occurring. However, anti-seizure medications have less potential for dependence.
Antipsychotic Medications
Anti-psychotic medications have also been employed in many drug detox centers to help lessen the side effects of alcohol withdrawal meds, especially delirium tremens. Alcohol withdrawal can often result in the patient becoming delirious, sometimes even violent. To help control the this anti-psychotic medications such as Haldol may be used to help with behavioral control.
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