Dr. Leeds treats alcohol use disorder in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida by telemedicine, with The Sinclair Method using naltrexone and, for patients who need to stop drinking completely, alcohol withdrawal supervised at home with a nurse on site 24 hours a day. In-office visits are available in Fort Lauderdale.
Is Vivitrol for alcohol a good idea?
Vivitrol is a monthly shot that contains the drug, naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, or an opioid receptor blocker.
Is vivitrol good for alcohol addiction treatment? That is a good question. Naltrexone is approved by the FDA to treat opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.
Vivitrol is FDA approved both to prevent relapse to opioid dependence after detoxification and to treat alcohol dependence in people who have already stopped drinking, and in people with alcohol use disorder it can reduce heavy drinking.
For The Sinclair Method (TSM), naltrexone tablets are the better fit, because patients take a tablet one hour before having an alcoholic beverage.
The tablets are only taken on drinking days. This flexibility in dosing is not possible with the Vivitrol shot.
Is therapy an important part of alcohol addiction treatment?
While it is possible to have success in the short-term with prescribed medication for alcohol addiction, for the best long-term results, therapy is recommended. Some patients get addiction counseling or coaching. There are many types of talk therapy that can be helpful.
What is the best way to find a good therapist who will work with patients who take medication for alcohol addiction? You can start by asking your doctor. Dr. Leeds counsels and coaches patients as part of every medical visit, and he can suggest outside counseling for patients who want it.
Does a gray area drinker have an alcohol addiction?
A gray area drinker does not drink every day. Sometimes, they do not even drink every week. Most gray area drinkers do not think of themselves as having a drinking problem. However, when they do drink, they almost always take it too far.
It is difficult to say when someone crosses the line to having an addiction. Addiction may be more prevelant than we previously believed.
In fact, it is possible that all human beings experience addiction in some form. The problem is when addiction becomes harmful and starts to take over a person’s life.
Gray area drinking is a transitional stage, where drinking is begining to be a problem. When a person only drinks too much on the weekends, and has not experienced serious consequences, they may consider themselves to be a gray area drinker.
Dr. Leeds believes that a person at the stage of gray area drinking, going on the occasional binge, has already entered a stage of addiction to alcohol. Yet, it is easier to treat the alcohol addiction at earlier stages than it is when alcoholism becomes much more advanced.
Should alcohol be outlawed, since it is a dangerous, addictive drug?
There is no safe amount of alcohol for anyone. The risks of physical harm from drinking outweigh any possible benefits.
So, if alcohol causes problems, including drunk drivers on the roads and broken families, should we simply outlaw the drug known as alcohol? Outlawing drugs is a controversial topic.
It has been said that alcohol is not legal because it is safer than heroin, it is safer than heroin because it is legal. If alcohol were to become illegal and was only available as a street drug, it would be a much different, more dangerous drug.
Advocates of drug legalization say that we can keep people who are addicted to drugs safer by allowing access to a safer supply of drugs. This is known as harm reduction. Legal, regulated drugs are safer, because the person taking them knows what they are getting and is aware of the potency and purity.
Outlawing alcohol will not stop people from consuming alcohol. For now, the best course of action is to allow alcohol to remain legal, but to make harm reduction treatments, such as The Sinclair Method, available to the public. We must also improve public education on the dangers of alcohol to encourage young people to not get started in the first place.
Can weed kill you like alcohol can kill? Is it a safer alternative?
Cannabis is very popular now. People are lining up at marijuana dispensaries to get edibles, such as gummies, infused drinks, sublingual drops, and traditional smokables. There are also a variety of weed hybrids and strains, such as Indica and Sativa. The public perception around marijuana has changed dramatically in recent years.
Even before the renewed popularity surrounding medical marijuana and recreational cannabis, there was already a perception that weed is far safer than alcohol as a recreational drug. Whatever the merits of that comparison, there are concerns regarding young adults and children using cannabis.
The THC in cannabis is known to have an effect on short term memory and motivation. These effects are more pronounced in younger people, and may even be permanent.
For older adults, cannabis carries its own risks, and switching from alcohol to cannabis is not a treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Can alcohol withdrawal be done safely at home in Fort Lauderdale?
Even if you recognize that you have an alcohol problem, finding a treatment that works for you can be a challenge. Many people find that staying sober in the longer term is difficult, particularly if life becomes stressful. If you are looking for alcohol treatment in Fort Lauderdale that starts with supervised withdrawal at home and continues with medication such as naltrexone, Dr. Leeds can help.
What does alcohol treatment with Dr. Leeds include?
There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” way of treating addiction, so Dr. Leeds fits treatment to each patient. He supervises alcohol withdrawal at home, with a nurse on site around the clock, and offers ongoing medication such as naltrexone, with counseling and coaching as part of each medical visit.
Is outpatient alcohol treatment right for you?
Although some people with an alcohol problem prefer an inpatient program, many others see the advantages of going through withdrawal at home while keeping up with daily life. Out-patient care allows patients to continue working and supporting their family, as well as enjoying the benefits of high-quality care. Particularly if you have a number of commitments that you need to honor, an out-patient option could be the best approach.
Alcohol treatment in Broward County starts with a consultation.
Dr. Leeds supervises alcohol withdrawal at home for patients in Broward County, and care continues afterward with medication such as naltrexone, because staying sober is often harder than getting through withdrawal. To find out more, contact the office today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some people get addicted to alcohol, while other people are able to give up drinking more easily?
There are many factors that lead a person from social drinking to alcohol use disorder. At some point, the reward center of the brain determines that alcohol is essential for survival. It is likely that genetic factors also play a role. Many people are at a lower risk for alcohol addiction.
Does alcohol permanently damage the brain?
Alcohol does cause damage to the brain, and other organs of the body, over time. Should you worry about damage to your brain if you drink? People who stop drinking often regain a good deal of brain function over time, although some damage can be permanent. Quitting sooner is always best. If you drink heavily every day, do not stop suddenly on your own, because alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures. Stop with a doctor’s supervision, and call 911 for a seizure, severe confusion, or hallucinations.
Do alcoholics and non-alcoholics experience getting drunk differently?
It is difficult to say how the subjective experience varies from one person to another. Yet, there is good reason to think that a person with alcoholism experiences getting drunk differently. This may help to explain why alcohol is so addicting for some people.
Are there medications that people can take to help them drink less?
Yes, there are medications to help people to drink less alcohol. Gradually tapering off of alcohol with the help of special medication may be the best way to quit drinking with less trauma to the system. Naltrexone is an opioid blocker that helps people reduce alcohol consumption gradually.