Application of Medication in Treatment Co-Occurring Disorders

Medication
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Purpose of medication

Name of medication

Description of medication

Benefits of medication

Risks of the medication

Application of medication in treatment Co-Occurring Disorders

Treat alcohol substance use disorder

Disulfiram 

This is a drug that changes the way that the body metabolizes alcohol. It inhibits the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and it causes unpleasant effects when alcohol is taken (Alcohol use; disulfiram use for alcohol and cocaine dependence is subject of review, 2006). These effects include headache, vomiting, nausea, chest pains, sweating, flushing face, anxiety, blurred vision and choking among others, giving the patient a heightened feelings associated with a hangover.

The medication is beneficial in that, it creates a heightened hangover every time the patient takes alcohol. It helps the chronic alcoholics to shun away from alcohol relative to the feeling associated with the medication. As such the medication is quite beneficial to patients that are committed to avoiding alcohol, as the effects of the medication and alcohol are a strong deterrent.

Like most strong medication, this one is also associated with certain risks. Among the main risks include the fact that the medication should never be used 12 hours after alcohol intake as this may cause reaction lasting up to two weeks. The medication is also known to lead to side effects such as, impotence, tiredness, acne, skin rash, drowsiness, metallic taste in the mouth and headaches.

Among the other related medication Disulfiram has been found to have better effect at reducing the elements of co-occurring alcohol abuse in patient. The medication may be used alone in combination with counselling to maximize the effects of the medication and therefore the treatment (Alcohol use; disulfiram use for alcohol and cocaine dependence is subject of review, 2006).

Treat stimulant substance use disorder

Bupropion

The medication is quite common for the treatment of smoking termination and in other cases it is used for reducing depression effects. Ideally the medication is crucial in the inhibition of serotonin reuptake, which in effect reduces the level of depression commonly associated with patients that are trying to quit smoking.

The treatment is beneficial in that it reduces cravings for nicotine in the cigarettes. It is also crucial in light of controlling the withdrawal and as...