Conventional Medicine for Alcoholism

Treatment of alcoholism can only begin when you accept that the problem existed, alcoholic and agreed to stop drinking. He or she should understand that alcoholism is curable and must be motivated to change. Treatment in three stages:

1. Detoxification (Detox): this may be immediately after stopping alcohol and can be a medical emergency, it can get rid of toxins in the withdrawal seizures, hallucinations and delirium tremens (DT), and in some cases may lead to death.
2. Rehabilitation: this involves counseling and medication to give the recovering alcoholic skills to maintain sobriety. This step can be performed in the inpatient or outpatient treatment. Both are equally effective.
3. Maintenance of sobriety: success requires this step an addict to be driven. Is the key to maintaining support, which often includes meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and get a sponsor.

It doesn't stop the craving for alcohol detoxification, often difficult to maintain the recovery. For people in the early stage of alcoholism could stop alcoholism at some withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety and poor sleep. May bring long-term dependence withdrawal uncontrollable shakes and twitches and paranoia and hallucinations DTs. If not treated professionally, people with DTs a mortality rate of more than 10%, so detoxification of alcoholism in late stage should try under the care of an experienced doctor, and may require a short inpatient hospital or treatment center.

Treatment may include one or more medicines. Benzodiazepines are medications that are used to treat symptoms such as anxiety, poor sleep and prevent seizures and delirium. These medications are most used during the Detox, while usually tapered and then stops. They must be used carefully,/ since it may be addictive.

There are many drugs that are used to help people recover from alcoholism maintain abstinence and sobriety. One drug can be used disulfiram once the Detox phase abstinent person. It interferes with the metabolism of alcohol where to drink a small amount will cause nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion and difficulty in breathing. This medicine is best suited for alcoholics who are highly motivated to stop drinking or using a medication that controlled,/ because drugs do not affect the impulse to drink.

Another drug,/ reduces naltriksoni and yearning for alcohol. Can give even if he didn't know how much is still drinking; however, with all the drugs used in the treatment of alcoholism and is recommended as part of a comprehensive program that teaches patients new coping skills. It is now available as a long-acting injection you can give on a monthly basis.

Acamprosate is another drug, and FDA approved to reduce alcohol craving.

Finally, research indicates that the confiscated drugs topiramate and gabapentin may be valuable in reducing the desire or anxiety during recovery from drinking, although none of these drugs are FDA approved to treat alcoholism.

Antidepressants can be used to monitor any potential or resulting from anxiety and depression, but because these symptoms may disappear with abstinence, medication usually does not start until after the completion of the toxins, and there was a period of abstinence.

Alcohol is still vulnerable to relapse and potentially adopt again, recover total abstinence. Usually takes a broad approach to recovery, which may include educational programs and group therapy, family involvement and participation in self-help groups. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most well-known self-help groups, but other approaches that have proven successful.