What Medications Are Used During Detox?

When a person enters into drug & alcohol detox, they are usually motivated to build a better future for themselves.

They may feel afraid of the coming withdrawal, however. These two conflicting emotions can create cognitive dissonance for people. Luckily, medication-assisted detox (MAT) provides relief from painful and emotionally distressing withdrawal symptoms. People can start their healing journey because professional detox makes withdrawal easier.

This is one of the biggest benefits offered by a detox facility. Doctors, nurses, and psychologists monitor their patients 24 hours a day. They adjust medications as needed, providing patients with the easiest detox experience possible.

Medication used during drug & alcohol detox makes detox much easier.

FDA-Approved Withdrawal Medications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves all medications currently available in the United States. The approval process involves many trials that ensure safety, efficacy, dosage ranges, and reasonably low side effects. Once a medication passes through the first four phases of the FDA, it becomes available for a specific purpose.

Due to the thorough vetting system, the FDA has only approved withdrawal medications for four substances:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
• Opioids
• Tobacco

The medications used with each substance are listed below.

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD):

• Methadone (Diskets)
• Buprenorphine (Buprenex)
• Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone)

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD):

• Disulfiram (Antabuse) -only used in outpatient detox
• Naltrexone (Vivitrol)

Sedative, Hypnotic, and Anxiolytic Use Disorder:

• Flumazenil

Tobacco Use Disorder:

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Varenicline (Chantix)
• Nicotine replacement therapy

Other FDA-approved medications may be used during rehabilitation programs or aftercare. However, these other medications are not effective treatments for acute withdrawal.

Off-Label Withdrawal Medications

The scientific and medical fields move faster than the FDA process. Even when the FDA does work through the steps, this does not guarantee approval of a medication. Once approved, a particular medication is only designated for a specific purpose.

Different uses for the same drug must independently go through the process, which takes a lot of money and time. 

Due to this discrepancy, many medications show up in studies as effective for purposes different than the initial FDA approval. If enough replicated studies show the same data, doctors may start prescribing medications off-label, which is entirely legal and ethical. The use of off-label medications comes down to doctor discretion, so not all detoxes use these medications.

As of 2022, studies only indicate off-label uses of medications during detox for cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, and opioids. 

Certain off-label medications can be used for multiple substance use disorders (SUDs). Divalproex (Depakote) is an anticonvulsant that offers safe withdrawal and cravings management for cannabis use disorder (CUD) and AUD. Topiramate (Topamax) treats migraines, but it also helps decrease dopamine releases and drug cravings for cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco. Baclofen (Gablofen), a muscle relaxant, minimizes withdrawal symptoms for CUD and AUD. Ondansetron (Zofran) decreases nausea and cravings for cannabis and alcohol.

Modafinil (Provigil) is a wakeful promoting agent used to relieve withdrawal symptoms in CUD. It provides the same stimulation to the central nervous system without the major abuse-promoting effects. Gabapentin (Gralise) primarily functions as an anticonvulsant and nerve pain medication; it also provides cravings management for alcohol.

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that helps manage mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms for AUD. Clonidine (Catapres-TSS-1) is an antihypertensive drug that can help with severe opioid withdrawal. Although, it may only prove effective during the first few days of withdrawal.  

Relief of Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms feel extremely uncomfortable at best and present life-threatening dangers at worst. The exact experience will depend on a variety of factors, including drug type, potency, and duration of use. Doctors can prescribe many medications to relieve the symptoms.

Every SUD includes different withdrawal symptoms, so not every medication will apply to every disorder.

Physical Symptom Medications

• Anticonvulsants: Seizures occur in severe cases of opioid and alcohol withdrawal. These medications prevent life-threatening seizures. 
• Anti-diarrheal meds: Diarrhea can cause severe enough dehydration to kill a person. This class of medications prevents diarrhea. While alcohol withdrawal can occasionally cause diarrhea, it is most common in opioid withdrawal.
• Anti-nausea meds: Nausea and vomiting can be severe enough to risk vomit aspiration. It occurs in benzodiazepine, opioid, inhalant, and alcohol withdrawal.
• Beta-blockers: Beta-blockers are useful for managing high blood pressure and fast pulse. These are symptoms of inhalant, benzodiazepine, and alcohol withdrawal.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Achiness and muscle tension are part of almost every type of substance withdrawal. NSAIDs provide pain relief and decrease inflammation.
• Sleep medication: Disrupted sleep patterns fall into every withdrawal category. Sleep medications can assist in getting more restful and restorative sleep. As a result, patients will feel less fatigue, which is important for physical and mental recovery.

Mental Symptom Medications

• Antidepressants: Mental disturbances occur during most substance withdrawals. Antidepressants stabilize suicidal ideation, mood, and anxiety. They correct chemical imbalances of serotonin and norepinephrine. This is important because many substances impair the function of neurotransmitters.
• Antipsychotics: Benzodiazepine, cocaine, alcohol, and inhalant withdrawal can all cause psychotic symptoms. This category of medications can treat hallucinations, psychosis, delusions, paranoia, and delirium.
• Benzodiazepines: Severe anxiety is a symptom of cocaine, alcohol, and inhalant withdrawal. Doctors carefully determine the risks and benefits of prescribing benzodiazepines. They can be used at a doctor's discretion for withdrawal from these substances. Additionally, slow-release benzodiazepines can be used to ease withdrawal symptoms of quick-release benzodiazepines (with the eventual goal of discontinuing use altogether).
• Prazosin (Minipress): For people with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prazosin can assist in treating nightmares. Nightmares can occur during withdrawal from many substances.

Medication During Detox Helps. Find the Best Detox Centers with DetoxNearMe.com!

Detox can seem daunting.

An individual might want to get better but may feel nervous about experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Detox facilities offer many medications to assist in easing the physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal. They provide around-the-clock care from doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists.

Additionally, counselors can help patients manage the emotional impact of detox. Anyone trying to heal can receive support during group therapy. Detox is truly the best place to go through acute withdrawal. Plus, they'll help you plan your post-detox care. This can include inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, or a partial hospitalization program.

If you or your loved one is ready to make a change, DetoxNearMe.com will help you find a qualified detox center. We work with the best detox providers across the US.

A new life is within reach. Start searching on DetoxNearMe.com today!