Medications Can Help Keep Alcoholics Sober. Why Are They Being Ignored?
quillette.com
Affordable, safe, generic anticonvulsants restore homeostasis to the brains of chronic drinkers, but they are not being promoted.

If you or one of your loved ones is struggling with this its worth knowing and worth asking your doctor about. Article mainly discusses generic anticonvulsants that have proven beneficial, but there are others such as Naltrexone that can also be helpful.

  • waterbogan@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    41·
    10 months ago

    Apparently they regulate brain chemistry - from the article;

    Long-term alcohol abuse causes dysregulation in brain chemistry and neural function that can last for months or even years after the initial period of detoxification. Perfectly sober patients, who are well past the detox phase, often experience crushing levels of anxiety, insomnia, irritability, depression, loss of appetite, and anhedonia (the inability to take pleasure in any aspect of life). Addiction experts now believe these post-withdrawal symptoms are a driving force behind chronic relapsing.

    I’m not sure how applicable these would be for nicotine addiction however, the article mainly discusses alcohol and drug addictions