Taking medicine after alcohol recovery, what to do?

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If you want to take medicine after alcohol recovery, such as blood pressure medicine, during the time when you were drinking or using drugs, then you need to see your doctor to adjust the dose of this medicine now that you're in alcohol recovery.

The decision to stop using alcohol or other drugs is very important to your health during alcohol withdrawal or at other treatment. Major depression is a serious medical condition and often must be treated with an antidepressant. When appropriately prescribed and used, antidepressants do not carry a risk of relapse. Based on your alcohol recovery status, your doctor will be able to tell you if an antidepressant is right for you.

In general, taking medicines for anxiety or pain for a long time can increase your risk of a relapse during alcohol recovery. For this reason, your doctor may want you to try other ways of relieving any pain, anxiety or insomnia you have. For example, your doctor may suggest that you try physical therapy, ice or heat on the area where you have pain, or massage therapy. These methods are often helpful. Non-opiate pain medicines can also be helpful in relieving pain if other methods don't work. Using relaxation techniques, like deep breathing and meditation, may also help relieve feelings of stress and anxiety.

When your doctor prescribes a medicine such as a benzodiazepine or an opiate, because other methods don't work to relieve pain or anxiety, discuss the risk of relapse with your doctor. The two of you can work together to find the safest treatment for better alcohol recovery. If you are active in a 12-step program or another self-help support program, you should let your fellow members know that you are taking one of these medicines.

If you have any of these problems and discuss them honestly with your doctor, he or she can help you deal with them for long term alcohol recovery.