The treatment of substance abuse addictions involves different approaches. Addiction treatment is complex and requires thorough insights into patient health. During the entire treatment program, medication is the core of it. The doctor will adjust the medication based on the symptoms of the sobriety journey.
The diagnosis of the problem starts from the blood or urine test that can help determine the amount of drug in the body. Different drugs have different timelines that can stay in the body. For example, if someone asks – how long does heroin stay in your urine? Then the answer is for up to three days, but in the case of alcohol, it can stay up to 12 to 24 hours only.
After the substance use disorder diagnosis, the doctor starts the treatment program. The line of treatment consists of detoxification, psychotherapies, and medications. Though, the medications depend upon the type of withdrawal symptoms a person faces.
The following medicines help in the treatment:
Methadone
Methadone is a class of drugs widely used to treat withdrawal symptoms. When people are on the way to sobriety, they have an intense craving for the drug, but this medicine binds the brain receptors and helps in the reduction of relapses by decreasing the desire.
Methadone is generally prescribed to people addicted to heroin, but this medicine does not have habit-forming tendencies.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone reduces the effects of the drug on the brain receptors. It is a helpful medicine in the treatment of alcohol addiction. It reduces the euphoric influence of alcohol.
Though not everyone can tolerate naltrexone, the doctor will administer it by injection once a month.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine and methadone have the same function. Both the medicines bind the brain receptors to manage the withdrawal system.
The main difference is that buprenorphine does not have addictive tendencies. The patient can take it at home as it does not require close monitoring.
Acamprosate
Acamprosate is a practiced medicine that treats an array of withdrawal symptoms. There are mild to moderate withdrawals that remain for a long time. So, this medicine can help relieve long-term symptoms like anxiety, sleeplessness, and dysphoria.
Conclusion
Many other medicines help in the treatment of addiction. But, medications are not the only solution to curb addiction. Instead, people need to follow their treatment program religiously to return to their everyday lives.