A binge is a period of continuous drunkenness that lasts more than one day. It is rightfully considered one of the most severe manifestations of alcoholism. Often it is binge drinking that causes the destruction of a family and a host of complications, including the death of a person.
As a rule, the drinker cannot get out of this state on his own. Pharmacological remedies for binge drinking, sold in pharmacy chains, come to the aid of the patient. What medications are there to help you get rid of binge drinking, can you buy them without a prescription, how to take them - we’ll talk about this in this article.
Detoxification products
The main purpose of detoxification pharmaceuticals is to bind and remove alcohol residues, its breakdown products and other toxic particles. Detoxification does not cure alcoholism, it only helps the body quickly cope with poisoning,
The following groups of detoxification drugs are most often used to overcome binge drinking:
- Absorbents designed to collect and retain toxins on their surface or in their pores. The most striking representative is activated carbon. This is a cheap, natural, safe and quite effective first aid remedy for alcohol poisoning. It is taken at the rate of 1 capsule or tablet per 10-12 kg of weight. The maximum single dose is 15 tablets. Enterosgel, Smecta, Polysorb can be used as absorbents. They are available in tablet or powder form and are taken orally.
- Infusion detoxification solutions. Prescribed to increase blood volume and accelerate the removal of toxins from excess fluid through the kidneys. In this case, crystalloid (based on sodium chloride), colloid solutions - polyglucin, reopliglucin, hemodez, gekodez, and other plasma substitutes can be used. Administered intravenously.
- Laxatives and emetics. The greatest effect is provided by fast-acting medications - castor oil or 25% magnesium sulfate solution.
You need to understand that taking laxatives and absorbents is justified only in cases of minor poisoning or short-term binge drinking, in which there is no significant deterioration in well-being. In all other situations, infusion therapy is required.
Medications for withdrawal symptoms
This group is aimed primarily against hangover and withdrawal symptoms.
This includes:
- Vitamin complexes. Long-term consumption of alcohol-containing drinks destroys vitamins and accelerates their removal from the body. This creates a shortage of vital ingredients. Vitamin C improves immunity and tones the body, B vitamins accelerate blood flow and improve brain function, nicotine restores blood flow through the vessels, promotes detoxification, metabolism and liver function.
- Antihypoxants and metabolites - accelerate interstitial processes, saturate cells with oxygen, which leads to rapid oxidation of toxic substances. Often mildronate, fezam. Succinic and citric acids effectively fight hangovers. They activate tissue metabolism and the functions of organs and tissues, increase efficiency, mental ability, and reduce the toxic effects of alcohol molecules.
- Sedatives and sleeping pills. They allow you to improve the functioning of the nervous system and provide protection to its cells during withdrawal and recovery from it.
Combination medications have proven themselves to be effective:
- Cytoflavin – contains succinic acid, riboflavin (vitamin B2), nicotinamide (vit. PP), riboxin (metabolite). Cytoflavin enhances aerobic glycolysis and the synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid in neurons, increases the resistance of glial and nerve cells to ischemia, accelerates blood flow and metabolic processes in the central nervous system. Its administration contributes to the regression of neurological symptoms, the elimination of disturbances of consciousness, and the return of cognitive functions of the brain.
- Reamberin – contains meglumine (N-methylglucamine), succinic acid, sodium, potassium, magnesium ions. Reamberin not only accelerates aerobic processes in cells, restoring their energy potential, but also has a moderate diuretic effect. It is administered intravenously (slowly!) at a rate of 6-10 ml/kg.
Classification
Tranquilizers without prescriptions or with them in modern pharmacology are classified according to the following criteria:
| Classification type | Description |
| By composition | “Classic” tranquilizers are based on benzodiazepines – substances containing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is able, by acting on the receptors of nerve cells (neurons), to reduce their activity. The disadvantage of such drugs is the occurrence of dependence on them. New generation tranquilizers do not contain benzodiazepines, and work due to their safe analogues:
Group 2-1 drugs have a minimal number of side effects and contraindications. For this reason they are available without a prescription. |
| By area of application | All tranquilizers have 5 main properties:
Different drugs have some of these properties more pronounced than others, so they are used for different purposes:
|
| According to the specific effects on the central nervous system | There are “daytime” tranquilizers, in which the sedative, hypnotic and muscle relaxant effects are less pronounced. These drugs are intended to be taken during the daytime, when a person is required to be active, alert, and alert. On the contrary, “night” tranquilizers have sedative, hypnotic and relaxing properties, which are required in the evening and at night. These drugs:
Night tranquilizers are considered less dangerous and are often available without a prescription. However, this does not mean that they can be taken uncontrollably without consulting a doctor. This approach may result in a number of side effects:
|
It is important to consider that any tranquilizers are contraindicated for children. Elderly people should take them in reduced doses and on the recommendation of a doctor.
Adjuvant therapy
When recovering from a drunken state, great attention is paid to stabilizing the functioning of internal organs.
In this case, the following may be prescribed:
- Pharmaceuticals containing sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium - these minerals are necessary for the functioning of internal organs, and with prolonged alcoholism, their deficiency occurs. A prominent representative of this group’s means of breaking up binge drinking is Methusol. Administered intravenously, it has a rehydrating, diuretic, detoxifying, and antioxidant effect. With its help, rapid replenishment of circulating blood volume during hypovolemia is achieved, blood viscosity is reduced, its rheological properties are improved, and tissue dehydration is prevented. Exhibits a hemodynamic effect, promotes cell adaptation to lack of oxygen.
- Hepatoprotectors necessary for the protection and restoration of liver cells. This can be Heptral, Essentially, administered intravenously. An excellent effect is provided by Remaxol®, containing succinic acid, meglumine, riboxin, methionine, nicotinamide, sodium, potassium, magnesium chlorides, sodium hydroxide. It reduces bilirubin, improves the release of direct bilirubin into bile and the oxidation of cholesterol.
- Nootropics – improve brain function. The most commonly administered drug is Piracetam.
BENZODIAZEPINES
One of the most common tranquilizers. They are widely used in the practice of psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists - narcologists, neurologists, cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists and resuscitators. With long-term use they can cause dependence (mental and physical). Benzodiazepine tranquilizers have a specific antagonist (a drug with the opposite effect) - FLUMAZENIL (anexate), which is used to stop breathing and loss of consciousness in cases of overdose and poisoning with benzodiazepines.
- Chlozepid (Librium, Radepur, Chlordiazepoxide, Elenium). The very first benzodiazepine tranquilizer with a strong sedative effect. Sibazon (Relanium, Relium, Seduxen, apaurin, diazepam).
- Bromodihydrochlorophenylbenzodiazepine (phenazepam, elzepam). Domestic development, widely distributed in the countries of the former USSR.
- Nozepam (tazepam, oxazepam).
- Lorazepam (calmese, loram, lorafen).
- Bromazepam (Lexilium).
- Mezapam (rudotel, medazepam).
- Gidazepam.
- Estazolam (nuctanol).
- Clorazepate (Tranxene).
- Clobazam (freesium).
- Alprazolam (Xanax, Zoldac, Neurol). One of the most powerful drugs in this group.
- Tetrazepam (myolostane).
- Tofisopam (Grandaxin). It is distinguished by its ability to have an activating effect.
Over-the-counter tablets
Medicines aimed at combating alcoholism should be prescribed by a narcologist. However, there are also those that can be used in a variety of cases without serious danger. Among them:
- Glycine. It has an antidepressant effect. It is used to improve a person’s psychological state in combination with many other methods of therapy.
- Medichronal. These tablets have a detoxifying effect, stimulate metabolic processes, increase the activity of the cerebral cortex, which can improve the psycho-emotional background, relieve stress and improve sleep. In addition, Medichronal has a positive effect on liver function.
- Proprothene-100. Classified as a homeopathic medicine, it also has antidepressant properties. Allows you to achieve the required concentrations of biologically active substances in the human brain, helps reduce cravings for alcohol.
Side effects
Long-term use of benzodiazepine derivatives causes the development of complications and undesirable effects. First of all, we are talking about addiction and physical dependence on medications. The condition is characterized by the following manifestations:
- The drug ceases to have a therapeutic effect at the previous dosage. Increased chemical tolerance and an increase in the dose of the drug provoke the development of side effects.
- Withdrawal of the medication leads to physical and psychological discomfort. Those clinical signs for which tranquilizers or sleeping pills were prescribed return and become doubly intensified, signaling the “rebound” syndrome.
Also, the occurrence of side effects during treatment with benzodiazepine derivatives is associated with their half-life:
- Short-acting benzodiazepines are partially eliminated from the body within 1-12 hours. They provoke sleep disturbances, anxiety and fears. Examples: Triazolam, Midazolam.
- Benzodiazepines with a moderate duration of action are eliminated from the body within 12-40 hours. A residual complication is insomnia. Examples: Clonazepam, Lorazepam.
- Long-acting benzodiazepines have a half-life of 40-250 hours. Undesirable reactions associated with their use are due to the retention of metabolites in the body, which most likely leads to rebound and withdrawal syndrome, and the formation of addiction. Examples: Diazepam, Flurazepam.
Also, the side effects of benzodiazepine derivatives are associated with their sedative and muscle relaxant effects. These include:
- increased drowsiness, weakness
- deterioration of attention, memory
- incoordination of movements
- deterioration in the speed of psychomotor reactions
- decreased libido, sexual dysfunction
- depression, apathy
- respiratory depression, pulmonary hypoventilation
- euphoria, confusion
- sleep disorders, nightmares
Among the listed adverse reactions, the most common in terms of frequency of occurrence are drowsiness, weakness and changes in psychomotor reactions - according to statistics, they occur in at least 10% of patients. Other undesirable effects are recorded almost 5 times less often. These statistics do not apply to older people - due to the deterioration of metabolic processes and the slowness of all physiological reactions, medications remain in their bodies longer, causing an increase in side effects.
Herbs and fees
It should be noted that there are a fairly large number of folk remedies that can be used for heavy drinking. Some of the herbal medicines in the form of special filter bags are sold in modern pharmacies. These include:
- Stopped. The composition includes a large number of herbs: tansy, centaury, thyme, wormwood and others. They can improve digestion, choleretic processes, psycho-emotional background, and also significantly reduce the craving for drinking alcohol.
- Aralia tincture. Helps restore adrenal function and strengthen the nervous system.
All of them are sold without a prescription.
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