Volume-1 Issue-5 November, 2011
❌ Once a person quits alcohol after de-addiction he will never relapse again.
✅ Majority of patients have recurrent relapse & hence treating team should develop rapport with patients.
❌ Disulfiram is given immediately once the patient or their relatives seek help for problems due to alcohol.
✅ Patients are assessed, whether they are dependent or abusing the alcohol & examined for intoxication, if so then they are detoxified with tapering dose of benzodiazepine & then de-addiction is considered.
❌ Alcohol de-addiction can be done without patients knowledge as widely publicized with Disulfiram.
✅ It is not only unethical & illegal but also dangerous to treat a person without his knowledge with Disulfiram.
❌ Alcohol De-addiction involves use of only Disufiram.
✅ Most important aspect of management is Motivational Interview wherein patient gets the feedback & decides from the option of medications like Disulfiram/Acamprosate/ Naltrexone etc & Evidence based Counseling.
❌ Alcohol De-addiction is a costly process and needs specialized centers.
✅ De-addiction can be carried out in any medical institutions at very affordable price.
❌ Disulfiram is unsafe and should never be prescribed for Alcohol De-addiction.
✅ Disulfiram is the most cost effective drug available when it is used in recommended way & tailored to patient.
Compiled by –Dr.Pampi Majumder, Resident in Psychiatry, AIMS
