Detox Medication
CAMPRAL
Campral Delayed-Release Tablets are FDA-approved for the maintenance of abstinence from alcohol in patients with alcohol dependence who are abstinent at treatment initiation. Treatment with Campral should be part of a comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support such as counseling and support groups.
Campral is the latest medication to be approved for the treatment of alcoholism. Campral is indicated for the maintenance of abstinence from alcohol in individuals with alcoholism and should be started once a person has been withdrawn from alcohol. Campral should always be used in combination with psychosocial support. Unlike other medications, such as Antabuse® and ReVia® which make people very sick if they consume even small amounts of alcohol, Campral reduces the “high” associated with drinking alcohol.
Campral has been proven to significantly help alcohol-dependent patients prolong the duration of abstinence or remaining completely alcohol-free. In trials that measured the effectiveness of Campral plus psychosocial support (versus placebo), patients taking Campral consistently did better in terms of days to first drink, the percentage of alcohol-free days, and in maintaining complete abstinence from alcohol. People who continued to take Campral in the event of a relapse were often able to regain their abstinence. Many were shown to have shorter and less severe relapses than people not on medication.
Campral usually takes about 5 days for it to reach effective levels in your body. You can expect it to begin working by the end of the first week. The safety of Campral has been proven in many studies and in real- world use. In fact, Campral has been taken by over 1.5 million people worldwide.
Side effects of Campral are limited, your doctor will review these with you prior to treatment. More detailed information can be found on the web at: http://www.campral.com
INFUSION
The medications administered as part of treatment with Infusion are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for uses other than methamphetamine dependence, or cocaine or alcohol dependence. Infusion is different from traditional therapies — such as group therapy, abstinence, and behavioral modification — that focus solely on the psychosocial aspects of the dependence. Infusion focuses on the underlying physiology of the disease and targets the brain receptors thought to play a central role in the disease process. Infusion is designed to address the physical symptoms of dependence, such as cravings, withdrawal, and anxiety. Infusion can be used as a complement to traditional psychosocial therapies.
The Infusion protocols are designed to address the impacts of substance dependence on your brain by targeting chemical receptors in the brain and nerves, your body utilizing nutritional supplements to help replace important vitamins that are often diminished, and your life by providing follow-up group or individual counseling. Participation in ongoing after care programs is encouraged, and considered an essential component of the recovery process.
Infusion treatment is discreet, and does not require long periods away from home or work. The protocol begins with three in-office medical treatments on consecutive days, each of which lasts about two hours, followed by a second two-day treatment, approximately three weeks later. After the initial treatment, patients start a brief course of at-home medications and nutritional supplements taken for approximately 1 month. A critical component of the protocol is psychosocial counseling, which is initiated during the protocol and continued during the recovery process.
Infusion is not designed for use with those diagnosed with dependence to opiates, benzodiazepines, or addictive substances other than alcohol or stimulants, may not be appropriate for use in all patients, and should not be used in women who are or who plan to be pregnant or nursing during the course of the treatment and is not designed for use in patients under the age of 18.
VIVITROL
Vivitrol blocks neurotransmitters in the brain that are believed to be involved with alcohol dependence and are purported to aid in the reduction of alcohol consumption. Vivitrol, encased in microscopic biodegradable shells called microspheres, is administered by injection once a month. These shells slowly dissolve, releasing just the right amount of medicine every day.
In clinical trials, Vivitrol combined with counseling was shown to be very effective. People entering counseling, who have refrained from drinking prior to receiving Vivitrol, typically were better able to maintain abstinence longer than people not receiving this treatment.
Obviously, Vivitrol won’t do all of the work for you. Maintaining a long-term commitment to your treatment plan is a critical component of recovery and Vivitrol has been shown to help improve patient’s motivation to succeed. It is important to remember that no therapy, psychological or pharmacological, works for everyone 100% of the time.
More importantly, having a drink doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that Vivitrol isn’t working for you. And, Vivitrol won’t make you sick if you have a drink. Always keep your doctor or counselor informed of changes to ensure you receive the most benefit out of your treatment plan.
Side effects of Vivitrol are limited, your doctor will review these with you prior to treatment. More detailed information can be found on the web at: http://www.vivitrol.com