After you complete alcohol detox in Boise, Idaho, you face some major challenges. Frequently, those challenges include lingering symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Doctors and addiction specialists can help you cope with these symptoms. One FDA-approved option for lingering alcohol withdrawal is the medication naltrexone. When used correctly, naltrexone can help reduce your cravings for more alcohol. It can also help you stay sober and avoid a relapse back into active drinking.
Need a local source of naltrexone for alcohol withdrawal? In Boise, Idaho, that source is Zelus Recovery. We feature naltrexone treatment in all of our outpatient programs for alcohol recovery. Call us today at 208.518.0797 to learn more about how we can help you meet your rehab goals.
What Is Naltrexone Alcohol Treatment?
Naltrexone is the generic name of a medication classified as an opioid antagonist. What does this mean? When it’s in your bloodstream, naltrexone binds to locations on your nerves called opioid receptors. By doing so, it cuts those receptors off from opioid substances. As a result, those substances can’t alter your brain function like they usually do.
Why does this matter for people dealing with alcohol withdrawal? Alcohol relies on the same nervous system receptors to produce its brain effects. The nerve blockade that stops opioids from affecting you can also do the same with any alcohol in your system.
In What Ways Does Naltrexone Help With Alcohol Withdrawal?
What are the benefits of naltrexone for alcohol withdrawal? When you’re affected by addiction, it’s common to crave more alcohol. In fact, recurring cravings are one of the key reasons why it’s so hard to quit drinking. And when you do quit, those cravings can linger even after you complete alcohol detox.
With naltrexone in your system, the cycle of craving is largely disrupted. You may still feel an urge to drink. However, this urge is:
- Typically dialed down to a much lower level
- Easier to tolerate during your recovery
- Less likely to encourage actual alcohol use
When you don’t feel so compelled to drink, it’s easier to maintain alcohol abstinence. This is crucial since abstinence is essential for your short- and long-term recovery.
Precautions When Using Naltrexone for Alcohol Withdrawal
Naltrexone alcohol treatment is a proven method for dealing with the effects of withdrawal. However, there are some important things to keep in mind. First, you can’t take the medication with alcohol still in your system. If you do, it can:
- Make your withdrawal symptoms much worse
- Increase your chances of quitting your treatment program
- Also increase your odds of a full-blown alcohol relapse
Typically, it takes three or four months to complete a prescribed course of naltrexone for alcohol withdrawal. When treatment is done, your doctor will still need to monitor you to see how you’re doing.
Naltrexone will likely not be your sole option for alcohol recovery. The typical rehab plan also includes some kind of psychotherapy. That’s true because there are increased benefits from using both approaches.
Naltrexone will help you deal with the impact of withdrawal. However, it won’t help you change your personal habits in ways that support your sobriety. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is designed to help you make the required behavioral changes.
Enroll In Naltrexone Alcohol Treatment Today at Zelus Recovery
Does naltrexone help with alcohol withdrawal? Yes. For the average person in recovery, it helps limit the impact of alcohol cravings. It also makes it easier to stay sober when detox ends. These benefits explain the medication’s established place in alcohol treatment.
At Zelus Recovery, naltrexone is a potential treatment option in all three of our outpatient alcohol rehab programs. We also feature the additional resources you need to firmly establish your ongoing recovery. Ready to enroll in one of our customized treatment plans? Just call us today at 208.518.0797 or reach out using our online contact form.
