I'm glad to read this. It sounds like a positive environment to begin recovery.

I was actually thinking about anti-craving medications. There are, I think, more than a few. My brother took Antabuse, but that's pretty rough for many. When I was in dual diagnosis IOP, they gave me naltrexone pills. That was not helpful. However, then the IOP psychiatrist prescribed acamprosate (brand Campral). That actually was fairly helpful for me. I think there are even some medications for bipolar disorder, itself, that can be somewhat helpful for getting through alcohol withdrawal and maybe also cravings. Tegretol and Depakote? And just recently, my psychiatrist went to some psychopharmaceutical conference and learned of a fairly new naltrexone injection. He suggested I ask about that for my father. He said that the injection seems to be even more efficacious than the pill form. The advantage (especially for my dad) is that dad likely wouldn't remember to take the pills daily. I think I will still ask about this when my father returns home from his assisted living, if he does. In all of these cases, one must be sober when starting them.

When I was in detox, I was given the benzo Librium to help ease withdrawal symptoms, but drinking while on benzos, as you surely know, is a particularly bad idea! If you expect withdrawals, please have a doctor guide you (psychiatrist or general practitioner). During detox, I was also given certain supplements (B vitamins???) I forget exactly what.

We're here for you!