Taking Care Of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Withdrawal syndrome will immediately follow if an alcoholic abruptly stop taking alcoholic drinks. This is because alcohol has the ability to stimulate physiological addiction. This syndrome is usually exemplified by the autonomic disturbances and neuropsychiatric excitability that can lead to a more severe condition if exposed to a number of different sedative hypnotics such as alcohol. You can tell that withdrawal has taken place when there's a low level of blood pressure and can be alleviated by introducing a cross tolerant agent or simply the alcohol itself.
Signs and Symptoms of Withdrawal There are several factors that determine the level of severity of withdrawing from alcohol symptoms, and this includes genetics, extent of alcohol intake, age and many more. Symptoms can be mild to intense which may lead to a life threatening condition. Delirium tremens, seizures and even neurotoxic excitability can also be encountered by those people experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. Moreover, other symptoms such as anorexia, irritations, GI upset, diarrhea, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, fever, sadness, headache, anxiety, hallucination, panic attacks, palpitations, euphoria and even death can be possible too.
Another kind of withdrawal syndrome is known as protracted withdrawal or the post-acute one. It takes place after the stage of severe withdrawal that is slowly decreasing after a while at a milder severity. Here's list of protracted alcohol withdrawal symptoms - nausea, vomiting, headache, craving for alcohol and a feeling of misery over stuff that you find pleasing before.
How withdrawal syndrome can be managed? Alcoholics who are suffering with symptoms of withdrawal are prescribed to take some drugs, particularly those medications under specific categories. These are the benzodiazepines medications which include Lorazepam, Diazepam, and antipsychotic agents like Haldol. To manage seizures, anticonvulsants are needed like Carbamazepine, barbiturates, Topiramate, Donidine and also some supplements and vitamins.
Benzodiazepines are medications that are generally safe and effective to use in suppressing alcoholic withdrawal symptoms. This is also the same category of drug used for alcohol detoxification. The usual drugs that are utilized in managing symptoms are diazepam and chlordiazepoxide. Benzodiazepines are also effective in minimizing the yearnings for alcohol.
On the other hand, an anti-psychotic medication like haloperidol effectively works in controlling symptoms of withdrawing from alcohol as it control psychosis and agitation. But, there's a chance that the condition will become more life-threatening as these medications reduce seizure limit to those patients.
Anti-convulsants like Carbamazepine and Topiramate could also be used although there are no adequate data that can verify that they are useful. Furthermore, vitamins or supplements are also advocated by the experts to their patients. It is recommended for patients to quit cigarette smoking because it can also cause some alterations in the brain.
Somehow, these managements are also useful for drug addicts since withdrawal symptoms are also encountered. In case that this approach fails, it is strongly recommended to get assistance from a treatment facility. Remember to take immediate action if you know somebody who is suffering from drug or alcoholism withdrawal symptoms. The life you save might be your own.
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If you find this topic interesting and you need information about alcohol withdrawals and drug addict or you have a family member, a friend or a person who is near to your heart that needs medical attention, please visit our websites to learn more about it http://alcohol-withdrawal.org/ and http://www.drugaddiction.net/ .
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