By Dalal Akoury, MD addiction Addiction Courses Adult Stem Cells Alcohol recovery Autoimmune Diseases AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center Drugs Integrative Addiction Treatment for Physicians intravenous amino acid treatment for addiction natural addiction recovery NER (Neuro Endocrine Restoration) detox rapid addiction recovery Sex addiction November 25, 2015

Understanding clonidine for alcohol withdrawals: Helping alcoholics deal with withdrawals

If you are joining us in this site for the first time we want to welcome you to the home of solutions to all problems relating to alcohol and drug addiction. This is the place to be for all the information you need and all the expert and professional touch when it come to the actual treatment for the disease called addiction. Under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD the founder and President of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, you will not regret having associated with this team of experts for the attainment of solutions to all your addiction complications. And now when it comes to the understanding clonidine for alcohol withdrawals, I want to bring to your attention the understanding of what clonidine is. In that respect and according to the explanations we gave when we were discussing the use of clonidine with regard to heroin, clonidine belongs to a class of drugs known as central alpha agonists which is commonly used for treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). It is also classified as a sympatholytic drug because it inhibits Postganglionic nerve fibers, and thus alters the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system which is the part of the nervous system that it is responsible for fight of flight response.

With that understanding, doctor Akoury is registering that in order for alcoholics to enter recovery and realize any meaningful difference, they will first need to pass through a period of withdrawals. This is where the problem begins because of the presence of withdrawal symptoms. Victims of addiction are affected differently and for that reason under normal circumstances, for most people these symptoms will be mild meaning that they will never be much worse than flu symptoms. Efforts are being made to make the withdrawal process be more bearable to the victims and therefore currently there are a number of medications that can make the process from addiction to withdrawals pass more comfortably. Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are in agreement that one of the drugs that can be of value in the treatment of alcohol withdrawals is Clonidine. Nevertheless it is important to note that this pharmaceutical product is not a wonder drug but it can help significantly reduce the experience of some unpleasant symptoms. And with that understanding let us find out some of the benefits that will accrue from the use of clonidine progressively as follows.

Understanding clonidine for alcohol withdrawals: Uses of clonidine

There are a number of treatment considerations that can be applicable when it comes to the administration of clonidine. They may include some of the following:

It can be used for dealing with tics associated with Tourette syndrome.
It can be used for the treatment of panic attacks and anxiety disorder.
Symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flushes.
It can be used as mild sedative given to people prior to surgery to help them relax.
Treatment of menstrual cramps
Headaches
Treatment of neuralgia
It is used in conjunction with stimulants to treat attention deficit disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Treatment of night sweats
Antihypertensive – it lowers blood pressure
To reduce tachycardia (high pulse rate)
Restless leg syndrome
Treatment of restlessness
It can help with insomnia
Local anesthetic
Treatment for Rosacea (chronic facial redness)
It is used in the treatment of addiction withdrawal symptoms.

Understanding clonidine for alcohol withdrawals: Potential side effects of clonidine

Like with all medications, there will be some minor or major side effects and of course the doctor will advise professionally before administering the medication to any patient. Therefore with clonidine the following are some of the side effects that may potentially be associated with its usage:

It can cause people to develop a dry mouth.
Problems with breathing
Swelling on the body
Body rashes
It may lead to drowsiness.
Allergic reactions
Some people who use this drug will develop constipation.
It can lead to episodes of hypotension.
The individual may experience dizziness.
Mood changes
Headaches
Cold hands and feet

Doctor Akoury is advising that when using clonidine or any other medication for that matter, it is always important to appreciate that some of the side effects will be less effective with some people who take the drug will probably not have any problem. However careful consideration must be taken when one is considering stopping the usage. In other words it is important not to just stop using Clonidine without first speaking to your physician this is so because if you stop abruptly this drug (clonidine) can cause the patient the experience of the following:

Nervousness and agitation
Headaches
Blood pressure that is elevated to dangerously high levels
Shaking

Understanding clonidine for alcohol withdrawals: Alcohol withdrawals

If people have developed a physical dependence on alcohol they will suffer symptoms should they suddenly stop drinking or significantly reduce their intake. It can even be the case that the bad hangover symptoms that some alcoholics experience before the first drink of the day can be the result of these withdrawals. If people decide to enter recovery they are likely to experience some initial symptoms which can include:

Nausea and vomiting
Upset stomach
Feelings of irritability
Mood swings
Cravings for alcohol
A type of mental fuzziness – the person feels like their mental functioning is compromised.
Mild symptoms of depression
Insomnia
When people do fall asleep they may experience intense nightmares.
Body aches.
Sweating or clammy skin
Poor concentration and focus
Feelings of anxiety – the individual is easily startled
Headaches
Changes to blood pressure and pulse.

Finally doctor Akoury concludes that in some instances the individual patient may experience a dangerous form of withdrawal symptom known as delirium tremens (DTs). This can be life threatening and must not be over looked because it is possible for people to die if they enter this level of withdrawal meaning that they need to be medically supervised and some of the symptoms of DTs may include seizures and intense hallucinations, and just like we have always stated before if you have any concerns that you need to be addressed about your addiction complications, this is the place to begin from for a permanent solution to all your problems. You can now take up the step of solution by calling doctor Akoury today for an appointment that will leave you much healthy and ready to enjoy the remaining portion of your life happily.