Alcoholic/Drug Treatment

Getting alcohol out of the addicted person’s system is the first part of recovery. People with a severe alcohol addiction can experience intense withdrawal symptoms. A supervised alcohol detox is usually necessary for people addicted to alcohol to prevent potentially fatal complications. Shaking, sweating, seizures, and hallucinations are possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Medications can be used to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal in order to avoid relapse or to create a negative physical reaction to alcohol that helps eliminate the desire to drink. Common drugs used in alcohol detox and recovery include:

• Acamprosate

  Used to reduce alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

• Naltrexone

  Used to reduce cravings for alcohol as well as its pleasurable effects.

• Vivitrol

  An extended-release formulation of Naltrexone.

• Disulfiram

  Causes severe negative effects when alcohol is consumed.