Episode 6: Are There Any Medications to Treat Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is an all-too-common problem. Achieving recovery from alcohol use disorder is an important therapeutic goal. There are many causes of alcohol use disorder, including genetic and biochemical contributions. Unfortunately, most alcohol treatment programs today focus exclusively on social, psychological, or spiritual factors. 

There are three FDA-approved medications that can help someone with a drinking problem to improve their odds for success. Medications should not be the only part of treatment. But they should at least be considered. 

Even though potentially helpful medication options exist, only 1 in 10 people with alcohol use disorder are offered evidence-based medications for alcoholism. 

In this podcast episode, Dr. Erik and Melissa discuss how to get through alcohol withdrawal, being successful in recovery, and the FDA-approved medication options that can help.

In today’s episode you will learn: 

1. The difference between three FDA approved anti-addiction medications 
2. What medications you need for a smooth withdrawal from alcohol 
3. Why medication is NOT enough to maintain your sobriety and a happy life without alcohol

“Recovery from addiction is not a solo sport”

Key Timestamps 

[00:43] This week’s question: Will it be hard to quit drinking?

[02:02] Statistics around problematic alcohol use.

[02:40] How does your life improve after quitting drinking? 

[03:45] How can you SAFELY start your recovery from alcohol? 

[04:59] How does the body become physically addicted to alcohol 

[08:30] 100 mg of THIS vitamin prevents amnesia and other side effects of alcohol withdrawal.

[10:53] Why you might need valium and other drugs to adjust to alcohol withdrawal.

[13:50] Why do people consume alcohol? 

[15:13] Is it possible to become sober ONLY by taking meds? 

[19:35] The 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous approach: strengths and weaknesses. 

[22:34] An alternative to AA (without the seemingly religious stuff). 

[23:36] Why medications are only a tool in your recovery journey. 

[24:55] 3 FDA approved medicines that help you recover from alcohol addiction (and how they work). 

[35:29] A message to everyone who wants to quit alcohol. 

4 Key Highlights 

1. There is a tremendous amount of freedom that comes with quitting alcohol or reforming your relationship with alcohol. You start discovering that you have the ability to solve many of the problems that you depended on the alcohol to take care of.  

1. Psychiatrists and addiction medicine specialists are usually the best-suited professionals for helping people safely offload their alcohol use. 

1. Withdrawal prevention medicines that emulate the effect of alcohol in your body and thiamine are usually used when helping people transition to a life without alcohol. That being said, scientific data suggests that people need psychological therapy to maintain their sobriety. 

1. A lot of what drives continued alcohol use is a combination of: psychological distress, habits of thinking, unfavorable social or environmental cues. That’s why taking medication alone is usually not enough to stay sober.

Links 

Support groups for people who are addicted to alcohol: SMART Recovery | Alcoholics Anonymous

Ask us anything: Ask a Psychiatrist Website

Connect with Dr. Erik Messamore: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

Keywords

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