Most Common Drugs Used for Addiction Treatment
Most common drugs used for addiction treatment
Buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate. What each one does, who it suits, and how medication fits into treatment at Pines Recovery Life.
Published August 13, 2021 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~616 words
Most people arrive with an opinion about medication already formed, usually from someone who told them it is only swapping one drug for another. It is worth knowing what these medications actually do before you decide anything. Which one gets used depends on the substance, your medical history and what has already been tried. At Pines Recovery Life the decision belongs to the physician and to you, and nobody is put on something without being told why.
Drugs for addiction treatment
A treatment plan starts with what the assessment shows: the substance, the medical history, what has already been tried and what happened when it was. One or more of these medications may be part of it.
- Buprenorphine: used to treat withdrawal symptoms and cravings in people coming off opioids. It both activates and blocks opioid receptors in the brain. It comes as a tablet placed under the tongue, and it can be used alongside other medications.
- Methadone: prevents withdrawal symptoms from starting and takes away cravings tied to opioid use. It is a full opioid agonist, so it activates the opioid receptors and the brain reads that as the drug being there.
- Naltrexone: another opioid treatment drug. It works to prevent relapse in some people and can be used after someone has detoxed from the drug.
- Disulfiram: used for alcohol addiction. It stops the production of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol, so drinking produces an unpleasant reaction.
- Acamprosate: reduces the symptoms that come with alcohol use disorder. It works by settling the brain systems that chronic drinking has damaged.
What is medication-assisted treatment?
Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, helps the body cope with the absence of the substance it has come to expect. It works by training the brain to function without the drug. Over time a person needs none of these medications and still gets no intense cravings or withdrawal symptoms. It makes the rest of the treatment plan more likely to hold.
Do you have to take medication?
Some people would rather detox and work through recovery without medication. That is fine, and it is not a requirement. It is still worth weighing what these medications offer if therapy or other treatment has failed before. They can take away the cravings that lead most people back.
At Pines Recovery Life we run several programs to support recovery. You will hear more about any medication we might recommend when you talk to our team. Ask about any of these:
- Medical detox center
- Medication-assisted treatment programs
- Wellness center programs
- Inpatient detox center
Call Pines Recovery Life
At Pines Recovery Life the medication we use is based on what you need, and our team stays with you while you take it. It takes one phone call to start. Learn more when you reach out to us online or set up an assessment when you call 800.263.3869 for an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What medications are used in addiction treatment?
Treatment medications fall into three groups. There are medications for opioid use disorder (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone), medications for alcohol use disorder (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram), and medications that manage withdrawal symptoms (benzodiazepines, clonidine, anti-nausea).
What is medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?
MAT combines FDA-approved medications with behavioral therapy and counseling. For opioid use disorder it cuts overdose deaths by roughly half and keeps far more people in treatment.
Which medication treats alcohol use disorder?
Naltrexone reduces cravings and the rewarding effect of alcohol. Acamprosate helps stabilize the brain after detox. Disulfiram (Antabuse) creates an unpleasant reaction if alcohol is consumed. Each fits different clinical situations.
How do withdrawal management medications work?
They control specific symptoms during the detox window. Benzodiazepines prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures and DTs. Clonidine reduces autonomic symptoms in opioid withdrawal. Anti-nausea medication, sleep aids and muscle relaxants handle what is left.
Are addiction medications safe long-term?
Long-term buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone are well studied and safe under medical supervision. For opioid use disorder they cut overdose, hospitalization and death substantially compared with abstinence-only approaches.
Does Pines use medication-assisted treatment?
Yes. Our protocols include buprenorphine and methadone induction for opioid use disorder, naltrexone planning for alcohol use disorder, and full withdrawal symptom management throughout detox. Call (855) 981-8935.
