Side Effects Of Alcohol And Drug Rehab
While many people may not be aware of these side effects, substance abuse can affect virtually every part of the body. Addicts can suffer from abnormal heart rates, collapsed veins, or infections in the heart valves. Some drugs stop the bones from growing, while others cause severe muscle cramps and general weakness. If you use drugs on a consistent basis, they can damage the liver and kidneys. They also cause severe mental effects, such as hallucinations.
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Disulfiram
Taking disulfiram can have negative side effects. Although the majority of the drug is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, 20 percent of the drug remains in the body. However, if alcohol is consumed during the treatment, it will still have unpleasant side effects for about two weeks. If you are already consuming alcohol and you are on disulfiram, you should not mix alcohol with the drug and take it in the same dose.
Patients should be educated and counseled before being prescribed disulfiram in alcohol and drug rehab. In addition to counseling, disulfiram should be given with ongoing monitoring to determine how the drug is working for them. This medication has not been found to change drinking patterns long term. It is unlikely to be effective in patients with severe alcohol dependence or poor medication compliance. Moreover, patients should be monitored closely and reported if they experience symptoms of liver injury. Finally, clinicians should ensure that the drug is being properly prescribed to the patient, and obtain written consent before administering it.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is one of the most popular drugs used in the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependency. The medication does not cause any withdrawal symptoms, but it does block the body's response to endorphins. Users may notice less enjoyment from alcohol and drinking in general. This side effect may be temporary, but the drug may prove beneficial for some people. However, some people should be aware of the risks.
While Naltrexone is generally safe to take, it is only recommended to be used under the supervision of a physician. The drug can interact with some medicines, so it is best to discuss possible side effects with your medical provider before beginning treatment. In addition, it is important to tell your medical provider if you are taking other medications, as some drugs can interact with naltrexone.
Acamprosate
Acamprosate is a prescription drug used for alcohol addiction. It works by changing the brain's chemistry and function to make it less dependent on alcohol. As a result, alcohol addiction often results in changes in behavior and thoughts, including cravings for more alcohol. Withdrawal from alcohol is painful and in some extreme cases, even life-threatening. Acamprosate helps restore normal brain function, and prevents relapse.
Although acamprosate is widely used in treatment for alcohol addiction, the FDA has not approved its use in the United States until 2004. It was released as Campral in 2005 and is currently sold by Forest Pharmaceuticals. The most common side effects are diarrhea and rash, and it is important to note that the last one of these two is extremely rare. Although most people who take acamprosate experience a milder version of these symptoms, they can still cause severe complications.
Topiramate
Despite its potential benefits, topiramate is associated with a range of serious side effects in alcoholics, including a lack of mental clarity, unexplained weight loss, decreased sweat production, and increased acidity in the blood. In severe cases, topiramate can also cause suicidal thoughts. Although off-label prescribing is not against the law, researchers have yet to discover whether it affects the brain in the long run.
During a recent study, topiramate was used as an adjunctive therapy in 64 patients with alcohol dependence. The participants were on a median of 16.8 years of alcohol use, and many had co-occurring psychiatric disorders and concomitant psychotropic medications. Three-quarters of the participants had concurrent psychotropic medications, including antidepressants and anxiolytics. The other one-quarter were on unspecified drugs that had anti-abuse effects. The topiramate dosage was between 50 and 400 mg per day.