Excerpt coming from Case Study:
Puerto Rican Woman with Comorbid Dependency: A Case Examine
Ms. Perez is a 53-year-old Puerto Rican female who has complained that she is experiencing co-morbid addictions of dependency on alcohol and gambling. Ms. Perez has sought treatment to get alcoholism in past times but the mix of living close to a on line casino and the availability of alcohol has caused her to relapse as well as to engage in gambling regularly. Her gambling has in a negative way impacted her marriage and has also triggered her to borrow significant sums via her retirement account. The individual is exhibiting the indications of depression, including a sad and lethargic demeanor.
Decision One particular
One means to fix the patient is prescribing Antabuse (Disulfiram), a medication which “blocks an enzyme that is certainly involved in metabolizing alcohol intake” and “produces very unpleasant side effects when ever combined with alcohol in the body” (“Antabuse, inch 2017). The drug is designed to interfere with the rewards drinking alcohol produces in the patient, considering that alcoholism can be an dependency with both physical and mental components. Antabuse has the benefit for being especially prescribed to deal with alcohol dependency, in contrast to other medications just like Naltrexone (Vivitrol), which is approved for both opioid and alcohol-related habits. Naltrexone has the disadvantage of becoming injected vs taken orally, and the individual has a higher sense of control over the administration with this particular medicine when taken orally, that might enhance long lasting compliance.
An additional possible pharmaceutical intervention is usually Campral (acamprosate), a medicine which is also entirely prescribed to treat alcohol dependence. However , Campral can produce extremely unpleasant side effects in some people, including drowsiness “that may possibly impair the thinking or perhaps reactions, ” according to its caution label, and users happen to be instructed to “be very careful if you drive or whatever it takes that requires you to be conscious and alert” (“Campral, inch 2017). Although side effects are reported with Antabuse, sleepiness is listed as a less prevalent side effect (“Antabuse, ” 2017). The desire is to decrease the patient’s dependence upon alcohol without triggering effects that may act as a deterrent in her quest for sobriety.
Decision Two
While the side associated with Antabuse are not considered to be while severe as Campral, the sufferer returned with her next visit complaining of unpleasant unwanted side effects, including fatigue and a metallic flavor in her mouth. The girl did not wish to discontinue the medication , which is a positive indication, since many addicts are doppelwertig about letting go of their addictions. The patient did declare to relapsing once and reported that the effects of the drug had been extremely upsetting and serious. She stated that
