Naltrexone and Acamprosate Treatment in Oregon

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder is defined as a pattern of alcohol where the sufferer cannot control how much they drink. They may also be preoccupied with alcohol or continue alcohol use even after it has created significant life problems. It may result in the need to drink more to get the same feelings or suffering from withdrawals after abruptly decreasing drinking or stopping drinking altogether. It can present itself in the form of everyday drinking or binge drinking.

The disorder can be mild, moderate, or severe, and can show several different symptoms, including, but not limited to:

• Experiencing the inability to limit how much you drink
• Unsuccessfully attempting to cut down on your drinking
• Having strong urges to drink
• Neglecting important personal or professional duties due to drinking
• Drinking at times when it creates a potentially dangerous situation

Alcohol abuse can be brought on by several factors, including family history, mental health problems, and peer pressure. Sometimes another medical issue is the cause — those who underwent bariatric surgery may be at an increased risk for alcohol abuse. If not properly treated, alcohol use disorder may cause liver disease, heart and digestive problems, issues with sexual functions, and birth defects among other serious complications.

Naltrexone

For those battling an addiction or misuse of alcohol, naltrexone treatment may be able to help. This effective medication is FDA-approved to help ensure safe use. Naltrexone aids in reducing:

• Heavy drinking
• Frequency of drinking
• The urge to drink
• The likelihood of a relapse to alcohol dependence.

The oral version, naltrexone HCL (hydrochloride), is taken daily to help diminish or eliminate cravings. An opioid antagonist, it helps prevent your brain from gaining pleasure from drinking alcohol, lessening your dependency.

Acamprosate

This medication works with counseling and behavior modification to help prevent relapse for those who have stopped drinking alcohol. It adapts the chemicals in your brain to assist in reducing an imbalance. Restoring this balance allows you to focus on living life without the distraction of addiction.

Antabuse/Disulfiram

This drug is designed to help users quit drinking in the first place. The medication will not cure your disorder but helps deter drinking by making you ill if you attempt to drink.

Alcohol entering the body is normally converted to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid. Disulfiram prevents this conversion, creating more acetaldehyde in the body. The increase offers a toxic effect, leaving the user to experience flushing, nausea, headaches, and even vomiting.

The effects generally take place about 10 minutes after alcohol enters the body and can last up to an hour. Disulfiram is designed for everyday use, which helps maintain the proper metabolic cycle and further reduces the urge to drink.

Find Naltrexone or Acamprosate to Move Past Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol use disorder impacts more lives than just that of the user. Individuals or their loved ones who need help quitting or limiting drinking habits can turn to Renascent Rx for guidance. Renascent Rx is the go-to supplier for medications like Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Antabuse/Disulfiram for individuals throughout Oregon. This pharmacy is specially designed for after-treatment care for alcohol and opioid addiction. It even provides a Hepatitis C treatment package and medications to help those who wish to quit smoking, as well.

As a telemedicine supplier, Renascent Rx makes it easy for patients anywhere in the state to get the treatments they need. The helpful staff, which includes Family Nurse Practitioner LaQuicha Westervelt (FNP-C), has years of experience helping patients through the maintenance phase of recovery. Contact Renascent Rx today to learn more about their services, or schedule a telemedicine appointment.