Most understand that being an alcoholic severely impacts a person’s health status; however, many do not know that excessive alcohol use can be blamed for approximately 79,000 deaths in the United States each year. This sad statistic makes excessive alcohol use the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in our county (Centers for Disease Control).
In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, this post will feature a brief discussion of available prescription medications that can assist an alcoholic in quitting drinking. Although stopping drinking can be extremely difficult, there is hope. Read on to learn more about the drugs available to aid in the process of recovery.
Currently, there are four drugs prescribed to patients to help them overcome alcohol dependency. These are Antabuse, Campral, ReVia, and Topamax. As described in Healthy Place.com “Antabuse produces a sensitivity to alcohol which results in a highly unpleasant reaction when the patient under treatment ingests even small amounts of alcohol.” As you can imagine, feeling violently ill when taking even a sip of a drink would be a powerful deterrent.
In contrast, Campral “…helps reduce both the physical and emotional discomfort (e.g. sweating, anxiety, sleep disturbances) many people feel in the weeks and months after they’ve stopped drinking. This makes it easier for them not to drink after the immediate withdrawal period. It is the first medication thought to impact the biological and medical processes of the disease.”
The third medication, ReVia, blocks your feel good receptors which, in turn, causes a person not to drink as much. Again, this is a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of addiction.
Finally, the drug Topamax reduces cravings for alcohol. “It works by altering brain signals, which reinforces the effects of abused drugs such as alcohol” (WebMD).
In addition to these drugs, Chantix, a drug often used to reduce cravings in smokers is currently being investigated as a way to reduce alcohol cravings. As outlined in WebMD, “the drug Chantix works by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain. Many people who have taken the drug to quit smoking have reported to their doctors that they were drinking less, too.” Because of these initial findings, researchers are hopeful that this drug may work for alcohol addiction too. Although it is not available on the market yet, it may be of help in the near future.
In addition to prescribing medication, your doctor will also discuss other types of support for quitting drinking. These include things such as either in-house or out-patient treatment programs, individual counseling sessions, and/or support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Basically, you need some type of rehab plan in combination with any medication you may be prescribed.
So, during this April’s Alcohol Awareness Month, you may want to consider seeking help if you or a loved one have a problem with alcohol. If you have a strong desire to quit using, you can do it. How? Through a well-planned treatment program designed by your health care professional just for you.
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