| Treatments for a recovering alcoholic includes | | | | abuse. |
| detoxification, alcohol detox medications, emotional and | | | | * Mild sedatives may treat common withdrawal |
| psychological counselling, healthy diet and of course, | | | | symptoms such as headache and nausea. |
| the love and support of family and friends. | | | | * Painkillers and stronger doses of sedatives are used |
| Detox Symptoms | | | | to treat convulsions and seizures |
| The process of detoxification causes unpleasant side | | | | Medications for Detox |
| effects called withdrawal symptoms. Some of the | | | | The following are alcohol detox medications given to |
| common symptoms include nausea, headaches, and | | | | help keep the reformed drinker away from alcohol: |
| anxiety while the more serious symptoms are | | | | * Acamprosate (Campral) controls a person's craving |
| hallucination, seizures and high blood pressure. Without | | | | for alcohol. |
| alcohol detox medications to alleviate the pain, | | | | * Disulfiram (Antabuse) makes the person feel ill when |
| withdrawal can be very dangerous. At some cases, it | | | | consuming alcohol. It actually works by slowing down |
| has been recorded to cause death. Not all alcohol | | | | the pleasurable effect of alcohol, making the patient |
| detox medications serve to relieve pain, there are also | | | | feel nauseated. |
| detox medication given to the person to help keep him | | | | * Naltrxone (ReVia) works with the almost same |
| off alcohol. | | | | philosophy as Disulfiram. It reduces the pleasurable |
| Common Medications | | | | effects off alcohol. |
| The most common medications given as treatment to | | | | It is important to remember that a professional health |
| withdrawal symptoms include: | | | | provider should prescribe these medications. |
| * Anti-anxiety medicines are use to treat withdrawal | | | | Self-medication can cause more harm to the person. |
| symptoms such as delerium tremens (DTs) | | | | Also, families and friends should not depend on alcohol |
| * Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is used to prevent | | | | detox medications alone in keeping the person sober. |
| Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome that causes | | | | They should be vigilant in doing follow up check-ups on |
| permanent brain damage due to excessive alcohol | | | | the person every few weeks. |