People often joke about there “being a pill for that.”. These days, it seems as if everything can be cured with a pill, tablet, tab, or sometimes nowadays, even a gummy. Addiction can be traced back to a chemical change in the brain that can lead to a repetition of behavior or activity. And since medicines can also lead to chemical changes, it is only natural to ask what medications are available to help combat addiction.
Whether it is to help confront the physical or emotional challenges, here are a few of the different options for medications for addiction.
Methadone
Since its introduction, Methadone has shown to be highly effective in managing opioid addiction. Methadone is a synthetic, long-acting opioid taken orally. It acts on opioid receptors in the same way other more harmful opioids do, however with decreased effect. This finding means it does not produce the same “high” feeling the other opioids do, making it effective in reducing the dependency while also counteracting some of the challenging withdrawal symptoms that accompany recovery.
Disulfiram
Alcohol dependence is caused by the body’s need to produce dopamine chemically by consuming alcohol instead of naturally. Drinking alcohol at first stimulates the production and initially feels good. Still, over time as abuse and addiction set in, the body depends on the alcohol to achieve the dopamine hit. Disulfiram comes into play by effectively counteracting these feelings and producing the opposite when it interacts with alcohol.
Disulfiram can stay in your system for sometimes up to two weeks and can produce harsh adverse side effects when you drink while the substance is still in your body. Nausea, vomiting, and headaches occur when alcohol is consumed, making the association with negative feelings instead of searching for dopamine that the body has become accustomed to.
While these medications are certainly extremely helpful in combating your addiction, they should be administered by and under the supervision of professionals, as battling these symptoms can be difficult and requires proper support and guidance.
