San Diego Sober Living - Recovery

What Are the Best Approaches to Managing Alcohol Withdrawal?

In the growing and complex field of addiction research, the work of neuroscientists has been eye-opening, particularly in studies focused on alcohol use disorder (AUD). Dr. Nora Volkow from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, for example, has used brain neuroimaging techniques to study the brain changes that occur during withdrawal and relapse. Renowned addiction specialist Dr. Gabor Maté has extensively reviewed neuroscientific research on AUD, and he agrees with Dr. Volkow about how dangerous ethanol dependency is. Both physicians agree AUD can be more neurochemically intense than opioid addictions in many cases, which explains why many AUD patients suffer from terrible withdrawals.

Withdrawal Symptoms & AUD Treatment

Not everyone who deals with AUD will get withdrawal symptoms. Many patients whose AUD mostly consists of binge drinking won’t experience cravings, thus making their recovery journeys easier. Those who have become neurochemically dependent will certainly suffer from withdrawal that requires clinical treatment. Therein lies the answer to the title above. Treatment is what’s good for ethanol withdrawal. Depending on the assessment of AUD patients, various treatment plans and techniques can be recommended. Some patients may need medications, while others may benefit from residential programs such as Encinitas sober living homes.

Ethanol Detoxification

Depending on the severity of withdrawal symptoms, AUD patients may need to go through clinical detox, which can be intensive or as simple as consuming specific nutrients and promoting good sleep for a few days. Most AUD patients respond well to simple detox. Others may be prescribed sleeping pills and other medications to promote relaxation. If withdrawal symptoms are alleviated with detox, AUD patients may still have to deal with cravings, which are more manageable once terrible withdrawals are out of the way.

Prescription Medications

When some AUD patients succumb to severe withdrawals that could result in seizures, medications such as gabapentin and carbamazepine can be prescribed. If there’s a risk of delirium tremens, stronger medications like benzodiazepines may be prescribed. Antidepressants are good for long-term management of cravings. In recent years, psilocybin has emerged as an intriguing option because of its remarkable effectiveness in some AUD patients. However, more clinical trials and research studies need to be conducted because neuroscientists still have a lot to learn about psychedelics.

Understanding Ethanol Withdrawals & Cravings

Painful hangovers are essentially withdrawal episodes. Cravings, on the other hand, feel like long-term mild withdrawals that are more exasperating than physically painful. Managing cravings is a vital aspect of AUD recovery because they can result in relapse episodes that can set the journey back by many steps. If you’ve successfully detoxified, the cravings aren’t “all in your head.” They’re caused by the impact of AUD on the brain reward circuit. All the techniques to manage ethanol cravings, including a stay in a sober living facility, have neuroplasticity in mind. This means all the medications, counseling, and therapeutic activities are reshaping your neurochemistry until the day cravings feel like an afterthought. 

Addiction impacts every aspect of physical and mental health, and it’s a serious problem that requires professional treatment. If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, seek help from a medical professional or another person you trust to help you explore options for treatment and continuing support, such as recovery coaching. Encinitas men who need help with forming new sober lifestyle habits can reach out to the dedicated team at Casa Pacifica Sober Living for the guidance they need. Give us a call today.