Alcoholism Medical Treatment

October 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Medicine

alcoholt
Vivian Villalba asked:

Alcoholism medical treatment has expanded in recent years. New drugs have been found, through study and testing, that help people as they quit drinking. These medications are making it easier for people to become alcohol-free.

Antabuse, or disulfiram, is the oldest alcoholism medical treatment. It causes people to have an intense reaction when they drink while on the medication. If you do this, you could experience vomiting, sweating, throbbing headaches, chest pain, low blood pressure, and other symptoms.

If your dosage of Antabuse is strong enough, and you have had a large amount to drink, the consequences could be dire. You could have a heart attack, convulsions, or you could even die. You should be very sure you are ready to quit drinking before you begin Antabuse as an alcoholism medical treatment.

Antabuse, although a proven alcoholism medical treatment that works for many people, is not a wonder drug. It does not stop you from craving alcohol. Neither does it help with withdrawal symptoms. However, it can help you to get into the habit of not drinking.

Naltrexone is a drug marketed as Revia or Depade as an alcoholism medical treatment. It has an extended release from called Vivitrol. This drug has been used when people have stopped drinking to help them to continue their sobriety. It blocks the pleasure people get from drinking alcohol.

Yet, there are some people who experience the opposite effect because they have a different genetic makeup. The drug causes them to crave alcohol. There has been some problem with people taking this alcoholism medical treatment as scheduled. Once-a-month injections seem to cut down on compliance issues. Another problem is that naltrexone can cause some liver problems, depending on the dose.

Nalmefene is another alcoholism medical treatment that works much like naltrexone. It has a few advantages though. It does not cause the liver problems naltrexone does. Also, the drug is stronger and lasts longer.

Campral, or acamprosate, is another alcoholism medical treatment. It works to cut down on the physical misery and uneasiness that occurs when people stop drinking. This is not referring to withdrawal symptoms, which usually only lasts a week or so.

This refers to the time when your body is getting back to normal, which can take a very long time. In fact, Campral is generally prescribed for a year after stopping drinking. Its side effects are mild, so this is possible. It cannot be used to help you stop drinking. It is not that kind of alcoholism medical treatment.

Topamax, or topimarate, is an anti-seizure medication that has recently had success as an alcoholism medical treatment. Unlike other treatments, it can be started while the person is still drinking. In a study, heavy drinkers given the pill were six times less likely to drink while taking it than were the ones who got the placebo.

Alcoholism medical treatment is important to many people. One reason is that more people go back to drinking within the first few months after quitting than any other time. Alcoholism medical treatment can help with this problem.

medical treatment

Conventional Medical Treatment for Indigestion

May 16, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Alternative Medicine

Alien asked:


Description

Indigestion is a symptom that is caused by a number of stomach conditions, including hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Helicobacter pylori, heartburn, and dyspepsia. Because many of these conditions can pose serious health risks, it is important to visit your healthcare provider in order to properly diagnose the reason for your indigestion. The condition usually occurs after eating. People experience indigestion for a variety of reasons-after eating a specific food, after eating too much food, after drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages, or after smoking cigarettes. The frequency of occurrence also varies from person to person. Approximately one in ten adults experiences indigestion weekly, while approximately one in three experiences it monthly.

Heartburn, a problem affecting the esophagus, is perhaps the most common type of indigestion. Your esophagus is a 10-inch-long tube leading from the back of your mouth to your stomach. Food travels down the esophagus to the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent food and acids from escaping from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn occurs when this lower esophageal sphincter is weak or dysfunctional, allowing stomach acid to escape.

People who are overweight are at increased risk for developing indigestion because excess weight can increase pressure on the abdomen which, in turn, can make it difficult for the lower esophageal sphincter to stay tightly shut. Pregnant women also experience a higher incidence of the condition because they, too, experience increased pressure on the abdomen. In addition, people who smoke are at increased risk because cigarettes relax the lower esophageal sphincter.

Signs and Symptoms

Abdominal tenderness and distention

Feeling of fullness and discomfort in the upper abdomen

Burning sensation in the chest, often originating in the upper abdomen and radiating to the neck

Regurgitation of bitter liquid into the throat or mouth, commonly when lying down

Nausea and vomiting

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you suffer from indigestion only occasionally, you may experience relief by taking over-the-Counter antacids, which neutralize gastric acids. You also can prevent future cases of indigestion by avoiding any food or drink that irritate your stomach.

If you experience indigestion frequently, see your doctor, who will try to determine when your indigestion occurs, what foods and drinks seem to trigger it, in what part of the abdomen the discomfort is strongest, and how long it typically last. Your physician also may want to run a series of tests to make sure that your indigestion is not being caused by a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, colon cancer, stomach ulcer, gastritis, pancreatic disease, or irritable bowel syndrome. A barium X-ray, endoscopic examination of the digestive tract, or stool sample may be necessary. In order to rule out disorders of the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder, your doctor also may recommend an ultrasound examination of those organs.

If over-the-counter products do not offer relief, your physician may prescribe cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), or omeprazole (Prilosec) to block acid production in the stomach. A medication that increases the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter, such as metocopramide or bethanechol, also may be prescribed.



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