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Alcohol & Opiate Withdrawal

Alcohol includes a number of brewed, distilled and fermented beverages that are widely available for public consumption. Opiates include drugs such as morphine, heroin, codeine and methadone, most of which are either available by prescription only or illegal. Both types of substances offer a risk of addiction, in which the user craves intake and suffers from withdrawal symptoms if he doesn't receive his drug of choice. Patients attempting to kick their habit need to be monitored carefully in order to keep those symptoms in check.

  1. How They Work

    • Both alcohol and opiates make chemical alterations in the brain over time. Opiates connect to opiate receptors in the brain, while alcohol elevates dopamine levels. In both cases, the change renders the body physically dependent upon the drug in order to function. Kicking it becomes more than a matter of willpower; withdrawal symptoms are often so strong that the need for the drug overwhelms even the best of intentions.

    Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

    • Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be surprisingly strong, especially for late-stage alcoholics who have been drinking for a long period of time. They can include vomiting, shaking, nervousness, sleeplessness, profuse sweating and bodily shakes. In the worst cases, withdrawal can involve seizures, convulsions and physical hallucinations. They usually appear within 12 hours of the last drink the individual consumed.

    Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

    • Alcohol withdrawal generally requires close monitoring of vital signs, along with IV fluids and similar nutrients. Many doctors recommend sedatives during withdrawal periods to keep emotional symptoms in check. In the most serious situations, antipsychotic medication can control hallucinations, but it is usually administered only in a hospital setting.

    Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

    • Opiate withdrawal begins anywhere from a few hours to a day after the patient stops taking the drug. Initial symptoms are comparatively mild, though they grow increasingly harsh as withdrawal continues. Early signs can include sweating, shaking, difficulty sleeping, low-grade aches and emotional anxiety. As the symptoms grow worse, they involve more severe pains and cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, tremors, chills and violent mood swings. Symptoms tend to be stronger for heroin and similar opiates than milder drugs such as codeine.

    Opiate Withdrawal Treatment

    • In many cases of opiate withdrawal, a doctor will assign a methadone prescription to blunt the symptoms. Methadone remains in the body longer than other opiates and withdrawal symptoms are milder, though the patient must still be monitored by medical professionals. Other medications for opiate withdrawal include clonidine (which reduces the intensity of the symptoms) and buprenorphine (which shortens the length of detoxification).

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