Alcohol detoxification is the sudden cessation of alcohol consumption in people suffering from alcohol addiction. This method is frequently coupled with substitution of other drugs that have similar sedative effects as alcohol so as to avoid alcohol withdrawal. It is a process which involves the abstention from alcohol, but may also involve the taking in of substitute drinks. It should not be confused with detoxification. Detoxification involves complete stoppage of all substance use and regulation of body metabolism to eliminate toxins. This is usually done in order to recover from alcoholism.
One of the most common reasons behind alcohol detoxification is stress. The genes that are responsible for alcohol dependency may cause some sort of anxiety or nervousness in an individual who suffers from alcoholism. It may start as childhood or adolescent years and may persist till adulthood. Some of the symptoms associated with this condition include restlessness, insomnia, irritability, heart palpitations and sudden headache. The stress that is induced by this condition may lead to alcohol ingestion and dependency. This is known as alcohol A syndrome and is also known as genetic alcohol syndrome.
There are several other reasons which may result in alcohol detoxification. These include chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatitis B, which are caused due to excessive consumption of alcohol. Chronic use of benzodiazepines for pain relief in the terminal conditions like cancer is also responsible for these problems. The Ayurvedic treatment of patients suffering from alcoholism often includes the use of various benzodiazepines in very low doses as a means of dealing with the withdrawal symptoms. It is only after this medication is stopped that the patient is allowed to introduce stronger medication.
Long-term alcohol detoxification can also be caused due to long-term drug abuse. The treatment program may have initially focused upon treating the addiction itself. Once this is completed, it is important to take into account the mental health consequences which may have emerged due to the treatment program. Many patients who have engaged in long-term treatment programs have been able to completely overcome their alcohol addiction.
During the alcohol detoxification process, doctors make use of many different methods in order to slowly induce relief from symptoms. For instance, a doctor may recommend taking in a gradual weaning from alcohol. In this method, doctors decrease the dosage of alcohol one takes each day until there is no more intake at all. This method, called gradual weaning, has shown excellent results in most cases.
Another method used in alcohol detoxification is called buprenorphine therapy. This method makes use of an anti-bacterial compound called bzd. It works by reducing the level of receptors in the brain which receives signals from benzodiazepines, such as ativan and alprazolam. BZDs are thought to cause a sedative effect and therefore reduce the possibility of people feeling asleep while taking them. When buprenorphine is combined with counseling, it can prove highly effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms.