Disulfiram Detox & Withdrawal: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

What Is Disulfiram, and How Is It Prescribed?

Disulfiram is a prescription drug that is mostly used to treat patients who suffer from alcohol addiction. It works as an effective treatment for chronic alcoholism by causing the patient to develop an extreme sensitivity to the substance. Disulfiram blocks the metabolic breakdown of alcohol in a person’s system, causing him or her to develop hangover-like symptoms in as little as five minutes after drinking. These symptoms can last anywhere from 30 minutes up to a few hours. These are the symptoms that one can experience when taking this drug for alcohol addiction treatment:

• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting
• Increased heart rate
• Flushed skin
• Confusion
• Intense headache

A person does not develop a tolerance to disulfiram. The more a person takes this substance, the stronger the effects get. The effects can last up to four weeks after taking the first dose of this drug. If you or someone close to you is suffering from chronic alcohol abuse, you can get in touch with a disulfiram detox center by calling our hotline at .

Alcohol Addiction

Addiction to alcohol is a serious issue. Some people may feel that this addiction is not as dangerous as others because it involves drinking a substance that is openly consumed. It is often the highlight of weddings, birthday parties, anniversary dinners and other celebrations. These aspects of alcohol consumption can make addiction from this substance more acceptable than other drug abuse problems.

Those who abuse liquor, beer or wine are addicted to the ethyl alcohol they contain. Alcohol addiction is easy to sustain partly due to the fact that a person can walk into a store and purchase as much as he or she wants. There are a variety of signs that can indicate whether a person is addicted to alcohol. If you notice any of these addiction warning signs in yourself, this may be an indication that you have become dependent on alcohol and, as such, you need to get help from a disulfiram detox center. Alcohol abuse signs include:

• Getting violent when drinking
• Drinking alone
• Becoming defensive when asked about drinking
• Continuing to drink despite the harm it causes to health, work or family
• Hiding alcohol bottles and containers
• Morning shakes when drinking is stopped
• Making excuses to get a chance to drink
• Neglecting to eat properly

These are just some of the signs that can help determine if an abuse and addiction to alcohol are present.

Alcohol Abuse Statistics

According to a study published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 23.7 percent of the people surveyed had participated in binge drinking and 6.8 percent had engaged in heavy drinking in 2009. These results indicate that there is a serious need for the services of a disulfiram withdrawal treatment facility. Binge drinking basically means having five or more drinks in two hours, and heavy drinking refers to getting five or more drinks on five separate occasions.

Young Drinkers

“There is evidence that America’s youth need to undergo addiction treatment in disulfiram detox centers.”There is evidence that America’s youth need to undergo addiction treatment in disulfiram detox centers. The NIDA study conducted in 2009 showed that some youth ages 12 to 17 had consumed disulfiram at least once in the previous month. This is why many disulfiram detox programs offer treatment for both young and old abusers. To help yourself or someone you love having this type of addiction, call us today at .

Disulfiram Treatment

Disulfiram comes in pill form, with 200-mg, 250-mg and 500-mg doses. Typically, alcoholics are administered a 500-mg dose of this substance once a day for two weeks at the beginning of treatment. This is then usually followed up with maintenance of 250 mg of disulfiram once daily. A person often develops sensitivity to the drug within one to two hours after the first dose. Disulfiram detox centers make their patients well aware of the medication that will be administered as well as the side effects that go along with being treated with this substance.

It is not easy for a person to admit he or she has a problem with substance abuse. One may be hesitant about getting help because he or she is ashamed of the problem or is afraid of what can happen during the rehab process. This can lead many to attempt to remedy the problem of abuse on their own. The problem with this is that oftentimes once a person has gotten past the physical part of abuse, there are still the mental and emotional aspects to deal with. Mental and emotional recovery calls for help from professional counselors and psychiatrists. These professionals may not be available to someone who decides to try and stop the abuse on his or her own.

According to the 2009 NIDA study on alcohol abuse, more than 51.9 percent of Americans surveyed had used the substance in the previous 30 days. This is an indication that there is a large potential for widespread addiction among US citizens. You can gain access to the services offered in a disulfiram detox center by calling our hotline today at .

Unsure where to start? Take Our Substance Abuse Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. This evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are designed to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Please be aware that this evaluation is not a substitute for advice from a medical doctor.