Medical Addiction Treatment

Medical addiction treatment is one of the choices people struggling with addiction can use. Doctors at addiction treatment centers will use certain medications to help patients deal with withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for illegal drugs. The best way to go through effective detoxification is with a doctor’s supervision. They can provide the appropriate dosages of medication and advice when you have unpleasant side effects.

 

MEDICATIONS USED DURING DRUG DETOXIFICATION

 

The initial stage of addiction treatment can be very unpleasant as patients have to deal with withdrawal symptoms. These include nausea, sweating, seizures, anxiety, depression, and muscle aches. Patients also battle with cravings for drugs and alcohol. The following medicines can help deal with these symptoms and reduce cravings during medical addiction treatment.

 

* BENZODIAZEPINES

 

These drugs help reduce irritability and anxiety that accompany withdrawal and are a good choice for opiate and cocaine addiction treatment. They also have a sedative effect that can help you cope with alcohol withdrawal.

 

* ANTIDEPRESSANTS

 

Doctors also prescribe antidepressants for people living with addiction. That is because patients cannot produce happiness-inducing hormones in the brain due to reliance on drugs.

 

* NALTREXONE

 

This medication is excellent for alcohol addiction treatment because it reduces the cravings for alcohol. It blocks the brain receptors that produce alcohol’s pleasurable effects. It is usually given every four weeks through an injection.

 

* DISULFIRAM

 

This medication was the first one approved for use to treat alcohol addiction. If you are taking this medicine, drinking alcohol produces effects like vomiting and nausea. Since alcohol makes you sick, you will avoid it.

 

* METHADONE

 

Methadone is a synthetic opiate used to treat addiction to morphine and heroin. It helps relieve withdrawal symptoms and reduce the occurrence of cravings. This drug poses a risk of addiction, and therefore, people dealing with addiction must visit a clinic every day to get treatment.

 

Medical addiction treatment can help patients through detoxification. They are also great for people struggling with staying in a treatment program due to cravings.