Alcohol Cessation Medication

[Whipped Dream]

Friend of mine is quitting alcohol cold turkey after many years of almost daily alcohol use. He's 52, and also suffers from chronic anxiety.


Aren't benzos usually prescribed for people when they go off alcohol like this? What other meds are good for this type of situation?

 

[Cane2theLeft]

If he is at risk for a seizure they'll probably prescribe diazepam, chloediazepoxide or even clonazepam for a taper to prevent the most severe symptoms.

There are medications used to manage craving and other issues beyond the acute withdrawal period including acamprosate, topiramate and naltrexone.

 

[Alex000]

Yes, benzos are usually prescribed, most often diazepam. I think I have heard of phenobarbital (a very long acting barbiturate) being prescribed for treating the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, but I could be mistaken. It would be good for alcohol withdrawal regardless. If he has been an alcoholic for a while, and suffers from anxiety he really should consider an inpatient detox program. Alcohol wd's are no joke, and life-threatening.

 

[hobhead]

you state that his abuse is not daily . thus from my perspective gained from going on the wagon after years long daily binging
more than once - cold turkey works just fine - his motor nerves are going to have him twitching and sleep is going to be a non event among other things that are gonna feel really, really bad .

however it's all over and done in a relatively short period of time . central nervous system comes back on like like it's old natural self .

cross addiction is a worrisome and profoundly deleterious event that drunks going on benzos (which mimic ethyl's workings in the CNS) are prone to .

KISS dictates that your friend not complicate matter and just resign him self to a rough couple of weeks on the wagon .

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Diazepam and chloediazepoxide are the preferred benzos for alcohol withdrawal treatment due to their long duration, however sometimes clonazepam or even lorazepam are prescribed.

IIRC, Alex000 is correct, sometimes phenobarbital is prescribed...but much less often than benzos are, for obvious reasons.

Some doctors/treatment centers are partial to using barbituates instead of benzos, I have no idea why. Depends on the patient's reaction to the detox drugs, how severe their drinking was, the taper plans, duration of taper, etc.

 

[Whipped Dream]

cross addiction is a worrisome and profoundly deleterious event that drunks going on benzos (which mimic ethyl's workings in the CNS) are prone to .

KISS dictates that your friend not complicate matter and just resign him self to a rough couple of weeks on the wagon .

Yes I can see this being a problem. However, he drinks to treat his chronic anxiety. So now it's a bit of a double whammy - chronic anxiety PLUS alcohol wds. I suggested to him that if he's gonna treat his anxiety with a substance to NOT do it with alcohol as alcohol is much more harmful/toxic than valium or Kpins.

 

[Alex000]

If I were an alcholic, I think I would prefer phenobarbital for alcohol wd's over say diazepam. Alcohol wd's are a monster, and I think a barbiturate would do a better job of helping with the symptoms than a benzo. Barbiturates just slow the entire body down, and while obvioulsy benzos would help a ton, I think an alcohol addicted individual would feel better on something like phenobarbital. Honestly, I don't know, just what I think would be easier to switch to, but not necessarily better considering all the risks assosciated with barbiturates. Diazepam is certainly the most commonly prescribed drug for alcohol wd, regardless.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Barbiturates are quite dangerous compared to the benzos, even though they share a similar withdrawal syndrome (with alcohol!).

I think doctors just covering their asses may have a lot to do with diazepam being scripted over phenobarbital. More research/real life experience with using diazepam for alcohol withdrawal.

In the end its something for the doctor(s) to decide with the patient in question...

 

[Alex000]

I know barbiturates are very dangerous, and you are likely right that the doctors just want to be safe by prescribing the tried and true, diazepam. I am just saying if it were me, I'd want barbiturates, because of their powerful, all encompasing sedation, and their likeness to alcohol.