Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. Experts consider this bad habit to be an illness requiring medication, as well as psychological assistance. It is impossible to do without it, especially in cases when a person does not admit his problem and does not want to get rid of alcohol addiction on his own.
It is easier to help a person suffering from alcohol cravings if they are aware of all the damage done to the body. At the same time, everyone is trying to find the easiest and easiest way.
General tactics in the treatment of alcoholism
All experts agree that it can be difficult to get rid of an addiction. If the craving for alcoholic drinks bothers for a long time, willpower alone is not enough. A person cannot just decide and stop drinking at some point. It is especially difficult for women to cope with addiction.
Usually, it is not the drug addict himself who turns to specialists, but his or her relatives. Together with the doctor, a tactic is selected that allows to carry out the treatment as quickly as possible and partially restore the patient's health. Traditional therapy has four stages:
- Take drugs that cause an aversion to alcohol. These are the so-called aversive drugs, the effect of which is noticeable only when the patient drinks alcohol. In this case, the person suffers from many unpleasant symptoms - nausea, vomiting, tachycardia. Gradually, he begins to reduce the dose of alcohol in order to improve his health.
- Take medications that reduce cravings for alcohol. These drugs are needed in situations where a person has a strong desire to drink.
- Hangover cure. The main negative effect on the body begins when ethanol enters a cycle of chemical reactions leading to the formation of toxic substances - acetaldehyde and acetic acid. For this reason, a person has to take drugs that speed up his excretion from the body.
- Concomitant drugs. Usually the fight against alcoholism lasts a long time, but it will be much more effective if vitamins, glycine and safe drugs with a sedative effect are taken.
Only comprehensive drug therapy will get rid of the bad habit as soon as possible. None of the methods of alternative medicine, despite the many positive reviews, guarantees a positive result.
Physical activity
If a person wants to stop drinking on his own, an easy way will be not only to voluntarily refuse to drink alcohol, but also to adjust his lifestyle. This is especially important if a girl is suffering from a problem. In this case, the psychological aspect of the treatment cannot be underestimated.
Thus, experts are convinced that a patient who decides to stop alcohol should think carefully about his daily routine. This makes sense, since the urge to drink often arises during free time. It is best to devote these hours to an activity.
It will be useful for doing any type of sport. However, you need to understand that as soon as you stop drinking, the body does not immediately get back into shape. For some time, a person will continue to be embarrassed by health problems, so the choice of the type of physical activity should be approached responsibly.
Experts are convinced that during the period of combating alcoholism, it is useful to do yoga. This Indian practice includes not only physical gymnastics but also breathing exercises. It is good if your workouts contain elements of meditation. This will have a positive effect on the will of a person who decides to get rid of the addiction.
If, despite the best efforts, it is not possible to eliminate the urge to drink, it is better not to risk health at home, but to consult a doctor.
The best aversive drugs
Dealing with alcohol addiction can be difficult, so seeing a specialist is the right decision. Only an experienced doctor will be able to advise specific drugs, which in a short time will form a persistent aversion to all alcohol in a person.
The vast majority of these drugs contain the substance disulfiram, a chemical compound that blocks the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. This component of the drug from the stomach and intestines through the bloodstream enters and works in the liver. As a result, after taking drugs and alcohol, the following symptoms develop:
- nausea;
- profuse vomiting;
- red face;
- Heat;
- tachycardia.
The body enters this state whenever a person takes even small doses of drinks containing ethyl alcohol, which makes it possible to consider aversive drugs to be quite effective.
Any disulfiram medication will help women and men stop drinking. It is only important to correctly determine the dosage and duration of treatment. It should be remembered that these drugs should be selected exclusively by a specialist.
Drugs to reduce cravings for alcohol
One of the most affordable drugs in this category are lozenges or drops for internal use. The drugs contain antibodies that provide the desired effect.
Medicines help cope with addiction by reducing the craving for alcoholic beverages, but this is not its only positive effect on the body. The antibodies in the composition of the drug are included in the metabolic processes, as a result of which a person gradually gets rid of addiction. Plus, the medications help relieve hangover symptoms.
The drugs are prescribed for people who plan to stop strong alcohol or to get rid of the habit of drinking "weak" or "medium" drinks. They have virtually no contraindications and side effects are minimized.
Folk methods
Doctors are convinced that it is much easier for men to cope with addiction. It is quite difficult for a woman to stop drinking alcohol on her own due to the high emotional lability. In other words, the girl who drinks will suffer from mood swings, which can lead to breakdown.
To increase the chances of success in the fight against alcoholism, it is permissible to use methods of alternative medicine, but it is better to discuss this with a specialist beforehand.
- To reduce the craving for alcohol, it is useful to drink a decoction of St. John's wort and thyme. Herbs are mixed in equal proportions and poured with boiling water. The product is heated for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk daily, 300 ml.
- Another effective and popular method is to use hot milk with the addition of baking soda (10 g of sodium bicarbonate for 1 glass of liquid). The tool is poorly compatible with alcohol, which leads to profuse vomiting and a gradual rejection of alcohol. In addition, milk with soda serves as a good sorbent, due to which all toxic decomposition products of ethyl alcohol are removed from the human body.
Passion for alcohol is a dangerous habit, because it damages absolutely all organ systems. The easiest way is to solve the problem with specialists of different profiles. To stop drinking alcohol, a woman will need the help of a psychologist who will explain the need for therapy to her.
Additional measures will be sports, recreation, walks, good nutrition. It is really possible for a woman to stop drinking alcohol on her own, who does not view alcohol consumption as the only pleasure in life. For men, sometimes only a voluntary effort is enough.