Alongside alcohol, millions of people have a dependency on cocaine, heroin, opioids, and meth. When dependency or addiction develops, it’s hard to stop drug use because of difficult withdrawal symptoms. For this reason, many treatment centers use detox drugs to relieve the various symptoms and cravings.

Common Drugs for Most Detoxes

Man holding up detox drugs used for addiction recovery.

A range of medicines can treat withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, anxiety, seizures, panic attacks, insomnia and muscle spasms. Many of these side effects can occur during detox from alcohol, opioids or stimulants. Because of that, the following detox drugs are helpful in multiple drug withdrawal situations.

As the category suggests, anti-nausea meds relieve nausea. They can also regulate serotonin, which may reduce cravings for alcohol. However, not everyone reacts the same to anti-nausea drugs. In those cases, they could experience more nausea, digestive problems, fatigue, and headaches.

Anticonvulsants also do as they sound, which is prevent seizures. They can ease alcohol cravings as well. However, some people experience nausea, fatigue, rashes, dizziness, and tremors, as well.

Benzodiazepines are a common drug type that doctors use to treat mental health disorders. They’re also useful during detox to treat disorders such as anxiety, seizures, and panic attacks. They can relax the muscles too. However, benzos can cause cognitive issues, low blood pressure, drowsiness, headaches, and sleepiness.

Alcohol Detox Meds

Alcohol detox can be tricky for people who drank heavily for years. Doctors may use the detox drugs below to treat prolonged withdrawal symptoms, trouble staying sober and ongoing cravings.

To combat long-lasting detox symptoms, doctors may give patients acamprosate. Available as the brand Campral, it relieves physical and emotional distress and is safe for people with liver problems. Patients can keep using it after detox to reduce cravings, as well. However, it can cause other mild symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, and nausea.

Disulfiram, which is available as Antabuse, helps people stay abstinent by causing negative effects when they drink alcohol. These include arrhythmia, trouble breathing, sweating, vertigo, and nausea. Its use is more common for outpatient detox, and patients can continue to take it as maintenance therapy.

To help with cravings, doctors may prescribe naltrexone or Vivitrol, which blocks pleasure receptors in the brain. It’s available as an injection that patients receive every four weeks. However, it may cause headaches, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle pain.

Opioid Detox Drugs

Like alcohol, opioids can be hard for people with severe addictions to overcome. Many doctors use methadone to help patients step down from opioids. It relieves withdrawal and suppresses cravings. However, it could cause nausea and vomiting, and it is addictive with prolonged use or abuse.

Suboxone is a mix of buprenorphine and naloxone. It works much like methadone, but it has a smaller risk for abuse and addiction. The downside is that it may cause nausea, chills, fatigue, stomach pain and headaches.

Subutex is another buprenorphine drug that binds to brain receptors. However, it could cause headaches, digestive problems, nausea, and vomiting.

Similar to how it works for alcohol detox, naltrexone also works for opioid detox. It subdues cravings to use opioids because it blocks the pleasure receptors in the brain.

Stimulant Detox Meds

Detox from stimulants such as cocaine and meth can be very painful and involve strong cravings. Modafinil or Provigil is similar to meth, but doctors prescribe it to reduce cravings and help people maintain abstinence. However, its side effects include headache, fever, blisters, rashes, and vomiting.

Doctors may also prescribe antipsychotics to people who experience paranoia, hallucinations or psychosis during detox. Although these detox drugs relieve those symptoms, they can cause muscle pain, vision trouble, dry mouth, tremors, and spasms.

Visit Serenity House Detox & Recovery for Medical Detox

Serenity House Detox & Recovery uses various detox drugs to keep patients safe and comfortable while they quit using. We monitor each patient to determine the medicines that he or she needs. Our addiction experts and clinical staff help navigate the various detox drugs uses and side effects, for an optimum detox experience. This service is available during all our drug addiction treatment programs, including:

Along with alcohol, we treat people with addictions to opiates, benzos, hallucinogens, and stimulants. Our Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter locations also provide group and individual therapy. In addition to evidence-based treatments, Serenity House Detox & Recovery offers meditation groups.

Don’t hesitate to begin treatment for a substance use disorder. Get the care you need at a quality detox center. Contact Serenity House Detox & Recovery today at 866-294-5306 to find out more.