Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol Dependence – General Information

Alcohol Dependence also known as Alcoholism refers to conditions that appear from the continued or excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol Dependence is a disease which results in an excessive use of alcohol, no matter the negative consequences which may appear. Alcoholism also refers to the inability of the person who consumes alcohol to see the negative aspects of it. The factors which lead to Alcohol Dependence are the followings:

• The quantity of alcohol intake
• The frequency of the alcohol intake
• The regularity of alcohol consumption which varies among persons
• Genetic factors can make the patients to be vulnerable to alcoholism.
• Psychological factors such as depression make persons to be more attracted of the alcohol consumption.
• Emotional state – stress, anxiety, and emotional pain can lead to alcohol consumption.
• Social and cultural factors – the way that the commercials about alcohol are mare may stimulate some people to drink, as they think that alcohol is not harmful in high quantities.

Here is a list of the possible complications of alcoholism –medical and social- :

• Liver disorders
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Cardiovascular problems
• Diabetes complications
• Sexual and menstruation dysfunctions
• Birth defects
• Fatigue
• Short time memory loss
• Impairs speech
• Impairs muscle coordination
• Bone loss
• Life threatening coma
• Neurological complications
• Increases the risk of developing esophagus, larynx, liver and colon cancers
• Domestic abuse
• Poor performances in school, or at the job
• Suicide or even murder
• Accidental injuries
• Vehicle accidents
• Arrest

Alcohol Dependence – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Alcohol Dependence) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Alcohol Dependence or from any other medical disorder.
Here is a list of the most common symptoms and signs of Alcohol Dependence:

• Feeling the need of drinking
• The inability to limit the quantity of alcohol intake
• Drinking alone
• Drinking in secret
• Making a drinking program before, while and after the meals.
• The lost of interest in the daily activities, hobbies and job
• Irritability
• Gulping drinks
• Legal problems
• Tolerance to alcohol that will lead to bigger quantities of alcohol intake
• Keeping the alcohol in the care, at work, or in weird places at home
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Insomnia
• Aggressive behavior
• Fever
• Tachycardia
• High or low blood pressure
• Mental disturbances
• Multiple seizures
• Delirium which can include: hallucinations, confusion etc.
• Loss of control
• Craving for alcohol
• Physical dependence
• Abdominal pain
• Numbness of the hands and legs
• Swelling of the liver
• Red eyes
• Puffy face
• Vomiting
• Heart failure
• Brain damage
• Obesity
• Muscle diseases
• Skin problems

Alcohol Dependence – Treatment

The first step in treating Alcohol Dependence is to determine the grade of the dependence.  The treatment is usually based on controlling the desire of drinking, reducing drinking, abstinence and group therapy such as Alcoholics Anonymous (also known as AA).  The Alcohol Dependence treatment can involve the following steps:

• Detoxification – the treatment is form four to ten days, and may include taking sedatives in order to stop the delirium or seizures.
• Medical assessment – treating the high or low blood pressure, the increased sugar levels in the blood, liver diseases and even heart diseases, if they exist.
• Psychological and psychiatric treatments – include the group therapy, in which the patients receive advices and support to quit drinking.
• Accepting the abstinence – an effective treatment is based on the patients acceptance of abstinence, and this involves recognizing that they are alcohol addicts and that they are unable to control the intake of alcohol.
• Making new friends may also help in the treatment’s course.
• Living in a “safe” environment, where there is no alcohol which may tempt the patients to drink again, especially in the first weeks of the treatment.
• Drug treatments – here is a list of the most recommended drugs used in the Alcohol Dependence treatment:
• Disulfiram (also known as Antabuse) – while patients are under treatment with this drug, it is recommended to avoid the alcohol intake, as the medication in combination with alcohol can lead to severe physical reactions, such as flushing, nausea, headaches, vomiting.
• Naltrexone (also known as Reviva)
• Acamprosate (also known as Campral)
• Vivitrol
• Ativan (also known as lorazepam)
• Diazepam ( also known as Valium)
• Sertraline
• Fluoxetine (also known as Prozac)
• Continuing support – family, relatives and friends should support the patient to abstain from drinking and should help them to recover from alcoholism.

Here is a list of reasons to quit drinking and begin the Alcohol Dependence treatments listed above:

• Pregnancy – it is not safe to drink during the pregnancy as it affects the fetus. The baby whose mother was drinking during pregnancy may be born with mental retardation, behavioral problems and also learning problems.
• Age – Alcohol Dependence affects people differently in correlation with their age. Older people may develop problems with hearing, seeing, low tolerance to alcohol, slow reaction times.
• The sex – women are affected differently from men, as they become impaired. The medical problems such as liver, heart and brain damages develop rapidly in women.
• Heart problems – it is true that the persons who drink moderately have a lower risk of developing a heart problem than those people who do not drink, but these should not be a reason to become an alcoholic.
• Drug treatment – if the patient is undergoing drug treatment, he must not drink, as almost all the medicines interact harmfully in combination with alcohol. Medicines such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, anti-anxiety, antidepressants and pain killers must not be taken with alcohol, as taking them with alcohol can lead to the depression of the central nervous system.