Some Information in Georgia About Alcohol Addiction Medication
A magic pill or an alcohol addiction treatment that fits the needs of all types of alcoholics is definitely not available. However, a few FDA-approved medications, in combination with social and psychological interventions (for example the 12-step program), helps alcoholics reduce their cravings and drastically reduce the number of their heavy drinking days. The aim of this article is to discuss about the different medications used for treating addiction to alcohol.
According to specialists in the field, medications should not be considered as substitutes for drinking. Medications enable alcoholics to successfully recover from the disease of addiction. As of now, FDA has approved three drugs for treating alcoholism. Some information about each of them is given below:
Alcohol Addiction Atlanta GA
Alcohol Addiction Columbus GA
Alcohol Addiction Augusta GA
Drug and Alcohol Center in Georgia
Drug and Alcohol Facility in Georgia
Medication for Creating Alcohol Aversion
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Antabuse is the oldest addiction treatment drug available in the market. It was approved by the FDA more than fifty years back. The aversion causing drug works by making the addict experience harmless side effects when he/she drinks alcohol. In fact, it interferes with the ability of the body to absorb alcohol by inhibiting the production of an enzyme that enables absorption of the acetaldehyde, an alcohol breakdown product. Acetaldehyde build up in alcoholic’s body, even if he/she ingests only a small dose of alcohol, results in causing unpleasant side effects such as nausea, flushing, palpitations, headaches and vomiting, which can last for about two hours.
For this medication to be effective, its use has to be monitored whether the patient is undergoing treatment in a clinic or at home under the supervision of the spouse or a family member. This is because an overdose of this medication could cause low blood pressure and chest pain to even the death of the patient undergoing treatment. Typically, patients need to take only one dose of the medication once every 1 to 2 weeks.
Drugs That Help to Reduce Alcohol Cravings
Opioid antagonists Naltrexone and Acamprosate are helpful in reducing the feeling of craving for alcohol in alcoholics who are on the path to recovery. They have also been found to be helpful in alleviating some of the bad effects that addiction to alcohol has caused on an individual's system.
Naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol)
This anti-craving drug Naltrexone is to be used only for a short period by individuals who suffer from serious alcoholism. This medication is available in two forms: Vivitrol in injectable form (once a month) and ReVia in the pill form (to be taken once daily). Naltrexone works by blocking the endorphin receptors (or docking sites) in the brain. Endorphins are proteins that the body produces to help elevate a person’s mood. These receptors also accept narcotics like morphine and heroin.
Doctors often prescribe the injectable form of Naltrexone (Vivitrol) instead of the pill as many patients find it difficult to remember and diligently take the medication on a daily basis. The advantage offered by the injectable form is that patients take the drug more regularly as they are required to take it only once in a month. Sometimes, patients might develop either an abscess or an infection at the point of injection. Therefore, patients must report to their doctors if any of these conditions show up. Sometimes, Naltrexone causes a few temporary side effects such as nausea, feeling of fatigue, headaches and stomach pain. In the case of some patients, a high dosage of the drug increases the risk of liver damage. However, this is very rare. Often, doctors do not prescribe Naltrexone to patients who have used other narcotic substances in the recent times.
In the case of some patients, Naltrexone does not provide the desired effect. Research studies have shown that this is because of certain specific genes that are found in some of the patients undergoing treatment for addiction to alcohol. Finally, Naltrexone is frequently used in combination with acamprosate, which is also an anti-craving drug.
Acamprosate (Campral)
Whereas antabuse is used as an alcohol aversion medication (it makes the patient feel sick when he/she consumes alcohol), the anti-craving drug works by inhibiting a neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and causing the patient’s brain to slide into a relaxed state. In addition, it reduces alcohol cravings. A number of studies have been shown that acamprosate is effective in causing an individual to experience the need to drink less often. This medication when combined with psychotherapy has proven to be effective in enabling patients to take steps that would better their lives. It has been proven to be effective even in the case of individuals who are diagnosed as suffering severe alcohol addiction problem.
Side effects that are commonly associated with the use of the drug acamprosate include diarrhea and headaches. Some of the severe side effects experienced by patients include problems related to memory functions. Further, patients that have kidney problems must exercise caution when taking this drug. Often, acamprosate is prescribed along with drugs such as disulfiram and naltrexone.
Other Alcohol Addiction Medication
Topiramate (Topamax)
This medication is generally prescribed for treating epilepsy. However, the anti-seizure drug could also be used for keeping a person’s impulses in check. Studies have been conducted for using this drug as a medication for the treatment of alcohol addiction. In one study, individuals with dependency on alcohol were prescribed topiramate. The results of the study showed that patients were able to stay away from using alcohol for longer periods of time. Side effects caused by topiramate included loss of concentration, skin itching as well as burning sensation and loss of appetite.
Baclofen (Lioresal)
This is drug that is being currently studied to find out if it is helpful in yielding any benefit in helping patients stay away from alcohol usage. Baclofen is an anti-spasmodic and a muscle relaxant. Currently, the beneficial effects offered by the drug to patients with alcoholic cirrhosis are being investigated.
The alcohol addiction medication discussed above are often used for treating severe cases of alcoholism in conjunction with rehabilitation therapy and counseling techniques. Whereas some drugs are designed to reduce patients’ cravings for alcohol, some others cause patients to experience symptoms that would create feelings of aversion in them, which in turn conditions their bodies to reject alcohol.
According to specialists in the field, medications should not be considered as substitutes for drinking. Medications enable alcoholics to successfully recover from the disease of addiction. As of now, FDA has approved three drugs for treating alcoholism. Some information about each of them is given below:
Alcohol Addiction Atlanta GA
Alcohol Addiction Columbus GA
Alcohol Addiction Augusta GA
Drug and Alcohol Center in Georgia
Drug and Alcohol Facility in Georgia
Medication for Creating Alcohol Aversion
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Antabuse is the oldest addiction treatment drug available in the market. It was approved by the FDA more than fifty years back. The aversion causing drug works by making the addict experience harmless side effects when he/she drinks alcohol. In fact, it interferes with the ability of the body to absorb alcohol by inhibiting the production of an enzyme that enables absorption of the acetaldehyde, an alcohol breakdown product. Acetaldehyde build up in alcoholic’s body, even if he/she ingests only a small dose of alcohol, results in causing unpleasant side effects such as nausea, flushing, palpitations, headaches and vomiting, which can last for about two hours.
For this medication to be effective, its use has to be monitored whether the patient is undergoing treatment in a clinic or at home under the supervision of the spouse or a family member. This is because an overdose of this medication could cause low blood pressure and chest pain to even the death of the patient undergoing treatment. Typically, patients need to take only one dose of the medication once every 1 to 2 weeks.
Drugs That Help to Reduce Alcohol Cravings
Opioid antagonists Naltrexone and Acamprosate are helpful in reducing the feeling of craving for alcohol in alcoholics who are on the path to recovery. They have also been found to be helpful in alleviating some of the bad effects that addiction to alcohol has caused on an individual's system.
Naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol)
This anti-craving drug Naltrexone is to be used only for a short period by individuals who suffer from serious alcoholism. This medication is available in two forms: Vivitrol in injectable form (once a month) and ReVia in the pill form (to be taken once daily). Naltrexone works by blocking the endorphin receptors (or docking sites) in the brain. Endorphins are proteins that the body produces to help elevate a person’s mood. These receptors also accept narcotics like morphine and heroin.
Doctors often prescribe the injectable form of Naltrexone (Vivitrol) instead of the pill as many patients find it difficult to remember and diligently take the medication on a daily basis. The advantage offered by the injectable form is that patients take the drug more regularly as they are required to take it only once in a month. Sometimes, patients might develop either an abscess or an infection at the point of injection. Therefore, patients must report to their doctors if any of these conditions show up. Sometimes, Naltrexone causes a few temporary side effects such as nausea, feeling of fatigue, headaches and stomach pain. In the case of some patients, a high dosage of the drug increases the risk of liver damage. However, this is very rare. Often, doctors do not prescribe Naltrexone to patients who have used other narcotic substances in the recent times.
In the case of some patients, Naltrexone does not provide the desired effect. Research studies have shown that this is because of certain specific genes that are found in some of the patients undergoing treatment for addiction to alcohol. Finally, Naltrexone is frequently used in combination with acamprosate, which is also an anti-craving drug.
Acamprosate (Campral)
Whereas antabuse is used as an alcohol aversion medication (it makes the patient feel sick when he/she consumes alcohol), the anti-craving drug works by inhibiting a neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and causing the patient’s brain to slide into a relaxed state. In addition, it reduces alcohol cravings. A number of studies have been shown that acamprosate is effective in causing an individual to experience the need to drink less often. This medication when combined with psychotherapy has proven to be effective in enabling patients to take steps that would better their lives. It has been proven to be effective even in the case of individuals who are diagnosed as suffering severe alcohol addiction problem.
Side effects that are commonly associated with the use of the drug acamprosate include diarrhea and headaches. Some of the severe side effects experienced by patients include problems related to memory functions. Further, patients that have kidney problems must exercise caution when taking this drug. Often, acamprosate is prescribed along with drugs such as disulfiram and naltrexone.
Other Alcohol Addiction Medication
Topiramate (Topamax)
This medication is generally prescribed for treating epilepsy. However, the anti-seizure drug could also be used for keeping a person’s impulses in check. Studies have been conducted for using this drug as a medication for the treatment of alcohol addiction. In one study, individuals with dependency on alcohol were prescribed topiramate. The results of the study showed that patients were able to stay away from using alcohol for longer periods of time. Side effects caused by topiramate included loss of concentration, skin itching as well as burning sensation and loss of appetite.
Baclofen (Lioresal)
This is drug that is being currently studied to find out if it is helpful in yielding any benefit in helping patients stay away from alcohol usage. Baclofen is an anti-spasmodic and a muscle relaxant. Currently, the beneficial effects offered by the drug to patients with alcoholic cirrhosis are being investigated.
The alcohol addiction medication discussed above are often used for treating severe cases of alcoholism in conjunction with rehabilitation therapy and counseling techniques. Whereas some drugs are designed to reduce patients’ cravings for alcohol, some others cause patients to experience symptoms that would create feelings of aversion in them, which in turn conditions their bodies to reject alcohol.