Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use
Quit or change your drinking with the support of FDA-approved medications. These medications help curb cravings and restore your brain chemistry.
You don’t have to go through this alone
Medication-assisted therapy (MAT) consists of medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapy to provide a "whole-patient" treatment approach to substance use disorder. In addition, other health conditions should also be addressed during treatment. To ensure the safety and efficacy of the medications used in MAT, they are all FDA-approved and prescriptions are individually tailored to each patient.
With the Confidant Health app, you can access expert help for medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Download the app now, and we can help you right away.
The Confidant Health process
Meet with 1:1 with a prescriber by video. They'll ask you about your goals and history and work with you to build a personalized plan. This might include medications, therapy, and more.
1. Download the app
Whether you download the app or call our hotline, the Confidant team will make sure that we attend to your needs right away.
2. Get acquaintance call
The Confidant app will connect you to our virtual office manager who’ll direct and orient you about all treatment options available.
3. First Virtual appointment
Our virtual office manager will set you up with a clinician or a counselor/therapist, depending on your needs.
4. Post-Virtual appointment
The assigned clinician or counselor/therapist will make recommendations on how you can best engage with the Confidant app and care team.
5. Chat with Alfie
Should you have any other concerns, questions, or suggestions, you can always send a message to Alfie, Confidant’s Chatbot, and we’ll try to respond to them right away.
Get on the path to recovery with Confidant Health’s medication assisted therapy
Letter to Loved Ones
Addiction impacts the whole family. That’s why we offer services for everyone in recovery. Loved ones don’t need to struggle alone.
Medication Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Help FAQs
What is medication assisted therapy?
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a method of treating addiction that combines psychotherapy or counseling with specific drugs. MAT entails using drugs to aid the individual in modifying addicted behavior.
The FDA has authorized several drugs to treat alcohol and opioid use problems. Moreover, MAT drugs alleviate withdrawal symptoms and psychological desires that contribute to chemical imbalances in the body. MAT medications are evidence-based therapy choices that do not simply replace one drug for another.
What is the medication-assisted treatment for alcohol?
People who have a problem with alcohol need to get help from a professional. If they stop drinking without help, they could have severe withdrawal seizures and even die. Treatment tries to ease the withdrawal symptoms by closely monitoring and prescribing a slight decrease in the number of medications taken.
Alcohol withdrawal can be painful, which is why you need medication-assisted treatment. It would help ease the withdrawal symptoms to make the recovery process as smooth as possible. Don’t worry; you are not alone on this tough road! We got you.
How does medication-assisted treatment work?
To treat addiction, medication-assisted therapy combines medications with other behavioral therapies.
Medication reduces or prevents withdrawal symptoms and prevents cravings. Additionally, they provide a feeling of well-being and reduce anxiety. Certain medications are prescribed based on the type of drug used, the severity of addiction, and the person's medical history.
How does medication-assisted treatment help in alcohol use?
After deciding to quit alcohol, things may not go as easy as you think. There are withdrawal symptoms you might experience. That is why there is a medication-assisted treatment for alcohol where the appetite for alcohol is reduced. It also eases the withdrawal symptoms that many people experience when they give up alcohol for the first time. Psychotherapy, behavioral treatments, and social support can all be utilized in conjunction with this therapy.
What are the benefits of medication-assisted treatment in opioid use and alcohol use?
Here are some benefits of medication-assisted treatment in opioid use and alcohol use:
- Safer withdrawal is made possible by the relief of symptoms and the reduction of desires.
- You can improve retention in therapy by using safer and better-controlled drugs.
- Reduction of illegal drug usage, as well as the associated risks and legal ramifications
- It helps to keep overdose deaths to a minimum
- When combined with counseling and behavioral therapy, it prevents recurrence.
What are the risks of medication assisted therapy in alcohol use?
Although many professionals choose medication-assisted therapy, there are certain risks to consider:
- MAT needs strict medical supervision.
- There could be risks of adverse effects.
- Some of the drugs have the potential to be misused or mishandled.
- There's a chance you'll end up with yet another dependency.
What are the medications that can be used for alcohol dependence?
The FDA-approved drugs Naltrexone (ReVia, Depade), Naltrexone for Extended-Release Injectable Suspension (VIVITROL), Disulfiram (Antabuse), and Acamprosate Calcium have been demonstrated to be effective MAT for alcohol dependency (Campral). Each drug comes with pros and cons, so it would be best to consult an expert regarding this.
Our team is available to answer any questions you have or to help you schedule an appointment.
Scan the QR code below to download the app.