Naltrexone Treatment For Alcohol Detox
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Alcohol detox naltrexone treatment

All about naltrexone
Synthesised back in the 1960s and first used in a clinical setting in the 1970s, naltrexone is not new. This drug can block the effects of methadone, alcohol and other opiates. It can also lessen the effects people aim for when consuming alcohol or taking drugs. In this way, it can help patients abstain from using alcohol or drugs.
How does naltrexone work?
For alcohol and drugs such as heroin to produce their effects, they must reach locations in the body known as receptor sites. When naltrexone enters the nervous system and brain, it attaches itself to these sites and blocks the drugs or alcohol from accessing them.
The receptor sites in the human body are a part of a complex reward system which motivates people, leading to repetitive behaviours. A blocked reward system leads to fewer cravings and a decrease in dependency behaviours, which opens the door for new behaviours to assert themselves over time. This works well for people with opiate addictions and alcohol dependence.
Why try naltrexone?
Taking naltrexone can prevent you from experiencing a relapse. Most people with alcohol addiction have one or more relapses after becoming sober.
Research has shown that people who take this medication regularly have a better chance of staying sober than with other treatments alone. As such, it’s often recommended for alcoholics who want to get sober but have never managed to do so for very long or at all, and for those who feel willpower, AA or just counselling on its own won’t work.
Is naltrexone addiction possible?
Naltrexone is not addictive. Even if used for many months, there are no withdrawal symptoms for people who stop taking it suddenly.
What about the naltrexone implant?
An implant of this medication can be effective because it eliminates the chances of the person not taking it as directed or forgetting to take it. A patient is less likely to use opiates or alcohol when they have an implant from the Harley St Alcohol Detox Organisation.
Are there any side effects?
There are few side effects associated with naltrexone, and serious side effects are rare. Some patients might experience a slight stomach upset, fatigue or a temporary increase in anxiety or nervous moods.
People who have kidney disease or any liver disease, such as hepatitis C or B and cirrhosis, should not take naltrexone. People with these conditions could experience increased effects because of the slower removal of the medicine from the body.
Keep in mind that if you take naltrexone when you are physically addicted to opiates or alcohol, it will cause you to experience withdrawal symptoms quickly. If you stop taking this medication and start using alcohol or drugs, you could harm yourself.
You may wonder whether you will no longer enjoy life with a blocked reward mechanism. Fortunately, it will have little or no impact on your everyday life quality. Instead, people are normally pleased and happy to be free of alcohol or opiates and safe from relapse.
It’s worth noting that a study published in The Lancet medical journal which compared buprenorphine—another medication used to treat opiate addiction—to naltrexone found that while both are equally effective, naltrexone can’t be started until after a detox. This is due to naltrexone only working once all alcohol has been removed from a person’s system through a detox programme. While the study did find both drugs are effective treatments, buprenorphine’s advantage is that it can be administered before a person has gone through a full detox.
Do you need counselling after taking naltrexone?
At Harley St Alcohol Detox Organisation, we advise anyone with an alcohol addiction to take our home alcohol detox programme or attend our residential rehab programme. This is so you can receive the comprehensive addiction treatment that is usually needed to help achieve sobriety.
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Alcohol Addiction FAQ's
Where can I find my nearest rehab centre?
We offer locations for alcohol rehab centres nationwide, call our team on 0333 444 0434. They will be able to advise you on treatment options available in your area.
How soon will you be able to get me into rehab?
This all depends on your personal circumstances. We ask that you contact our team on 0333 444 0434 so that we can fully understand your situation and needs.
We’ll talk you through a short telephone questionnaire designed to help us provide you with the best possible care.
We then set a date and time for your admission and you can look forward to a new start in life.
Could my mental Health be linked to my addiction?
Absolutely yes, so many people are not even aware they have a mental health problem and many people don’t make the connection in children and mental health. The alcohol can become a ‘solution’ for a persons mental health. At the start it will seem as if the alcohol is quieting the mind, but in time as the addiction progresses it will only add to any mental health problems the person has. It is also difficult to diagnose a person with mental health while under the influence of alcohol.
Is it true that alcohol affects sexual performance and harm an unborn babies?
As well as being directly related to many serious diseases, drinking large amounts of alcohol can also lead to poor sexual performance, and it can harm an unborn baby. If you have an alcohol related problem, there are many ways in which you can get help to reduce your drinking, and there are also many services that you can use that will help you stop altogether. Definition The problems associated with alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, are wide ranging, and can be physical, psychological, and social.
Is rehab a cure for addiction?
There is no definitive cure for addiction. However, rehab can provide patients with the skills needed to successfully manage their addiction and remain sober. Recovery from addiction is never over and patients will need to work on their ability to avoid relapse for the rest of their lives. A high quality addiction rehab programme sets patients up for this process.
Am I an alcoholic? What is the difference between casual drinking and alcohol addiction?
Most people can enjoy a casual night out with friends, have one or two drinks and then stop, and they might not drink again for several days. They enjoy a drink, but they don’t NEED it.
If you feel that you would like to talk to one of our experts and see how we can help you, call us on 0333 444 0434.