Alcohol Detox Medications

Alcohol detoxification can be very unpleasant, say the experts at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Insomnia and even seizures may occur during this delicate process.

Fortunately, there are several medications available that aid in alcohol detox. Each medication works in a different way and is effective during different periods of alcohol detoxification. These drugs should be carefully considered before a choice is made between physician and patient on an alcohol detox medication.

Benzodiazepines

• Benzodiazepines are often prescribed for the worst symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. These are central nervous system depressants, and a few usually prescribed for alcohol detox are Valium (diazepam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Ativan (lorazepam). They act on the brain's GABA receptors, causing sedation and relief for many symptoms stemming from detox.
  According to the AAFP, benzodiazepines are considered to be a safe, effective treatment option for symptoms experienced during alcohol detox, especially for seizures and delirium tremens--a serious alcohol withdrawal-related condition that may involve hallucinations. Still, benzodiazepines should only be used for a short period of time, preferably in an inpatient environment under a doctor's supervision. This is because benzodiazepine-class drugs are habit forming in themselves and cause their own withdrawal symptoms similar to those of alcohol detox withdrawals.

Antabuse

• Antabuse (disulfram) is another medication used for alcohol detox. It is ingested orally usually in pill form, and works in a unique if somewhat unforgiving way. Where benzodiazepines alleviate withdrawal symptoms of early alcohol detox, Antabuse acts as a preventative measure. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Antabuse makes the user feel sick or nauseous if she drinks an alcoholic beverage.

  This medication is of little use in an inpatient environment such as a hospital, where a doctor or nurse is always present, but has been shown to be effective in reducing desire for alcohol in the late stages of detox. The nauseating effect created by the combination of Antabuse's active ingredient, disulfram, and alcohol is thought to be an excellent incentive to continue detoxification from alcohol.

Naltrexone

• Available in oral or injectable forms, naltrexone (Depade, Revia, Vivitrol) is an alcohol detox medication that is an antagonist of certain neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, meaning that when it enters the brain, it occupies the receptors that produce a "reward" delivered by brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) when alcohol is consumed.

  A person taking naltrexone will not become ill from drinking, but may experience reduced craving for alcohol since the receptors triggered by alcohol will not deliver the body's "reward" while the drug is present in the brain. During alcohol detox, especially in the late stages, it is vitally important for the recovering alcoholic to experience less desire to drink, and this drug helps make that possible, says the NIAAA.

  Naltrexone is also considered an excellent choice for abstaining from alcohol after detox is complete. It is thought to work comparably to Antabuse, offering a reduced payoff for consuming alcohol rather than causing nausea when alcohol is consumed.