Recovering from alcoholism can be challenging, even for the most diligent and perseverant of individuals. If you are a recovering alcoholic, you can be assured there will be times in your life when you will be at significant risk for relapse or complications associated with dual addiction. In terms of prescription medications, there is a considerable risk for complications related to regression and dual addiction. Therefore, you must find a doctor who can help you manage those risks.
In terms of medications that place you at the most significant risk, the use of pain medications – both over-the-counter and prescription pain medications – can be a challenge to manage effectively. Because many pain medications are habitual or cause addiction, the use of these medications can prompt a desire to use alcohol again or may produce a dual habit. Conversely, suppose you do not manage pain well with the medicines prescribed. In that case, you may find that alcohol is your drug of choice in managing your pain. Your doctor, therefore, must find the right balance of medications to control your pain while also reducing the risk for further addiction or relapse complications.
Anaesthesia is not a field of medicine that we typically associate with a relapse or a complication in recovering alcoholics. For some recovering alcoholics, and especially since alcohol is a relaxant and a mood depressor, the use of specific types of anaesthesia can trigger a physiological response that may lead to a relapse. Therefore, be sure that if you require any surgery, you advise the anesthesiologist about the risks for regression based on your alcohol use in the past. Often, with this knowledge, your anesthesiologist can take additional precautions when providing medications during and after your surgery.
In all cases of your life, as a recovering alcoholic, you will want to avoid using medications that mimic the effects of alcoholism as much as possible. Because these drugs can lead to adverse complications associated with new addiction or even dual addiction, it is vital to eliminate these exposures from your life. When facing pain issues or needing anaesthesia, be sure your doctors are familiar with the risks you may face as a recovering alcoholic.