Unsafe And Safe Drugs For Recovering Addicts

The following is a partial list of medications and preparations which are generally considered to be unsafe for those who are recovering from the disease of Chemical Dependence (alcoholics and drug addicts):

1. Any preparation which contains alcohol or ethanol. This includes most cough preparations, mouthwashes, colognes, perfumes, hand sanitizers (Purell) and aftershaves. When in doubt, always read the label. Beware of foods which are prepared with alcoholic beverages, such as wine or sherry, although the alcohol may be evaporated if added prior to cooking.

2. Benzodiazepines and other tranquilizers - Valium, Librium, Librax, Limbitrol, Tranxene, Dalmane, Serax, Xanax, Klonopin, Restoril, Halcion, Ativan, Versed, Miltown, Equanil, Equagesic, Soma, and others.

3. Barbiturates and other sedatives - Phenobarbital, Nembutal, Seconal, Fiorinal, Esgic, Donnatal, Doriden, Placidyl, Chloral Hydrate, Ambien, Sonata, Benadryl, and others.

4. Narcotics - Morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, Dolophine (methadone), Percodan, Tylox, OxyContin, Duragesic (fentanyl), Synalgos-DC, Codeine (Tylenol #3, etc.), Talwin, Darvocet, Wygesic, Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, Lorcet, Suboxone (buprenorphine), Nubain, Stadol, Ultram, and others.

5. Amphetamines and other stimulants - Dexedrine, Fastin, Ionamin, Tenuate, Meridia, ephedrine, Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Cylert, Metadate ER, and others.

6. Decongestants or weight-control preparations which contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

Many drugs which are prescribed to control psychiatric disorders should be used only with caution and very accurate diagnosis. The medications which fit this description are the major tranquilizers such as Thorazine, Mellaril, Haldol, Navane, and others; the atypical anti-psychotics such as Seroquel, Zyprexa, Abilify and others; and the antidepressants, such as Elavil, Triavil, Desyrel, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Serzone and others. A few alcoholics and addicts must be maintained on such medications, but the decision to do so should be made jointly by the patient's psychiatrist and addictionist.

The following are considered to be safe: Aspirin, Tylenol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil, Naprosyn, Anaprox, and others), antibiotics, some cough syrups (Robitussin-DM, Delsym, Safe-Tussin), and some antihistamines (Allegra and Claritin).

If you are unsure about any drug or other preparation, show this list to your doctor or pharmacist and ask for his or her assistance. If you find that a medication, drug or preparation alters the recovering addict's mood or mind, don't use it.