Benefits of a ‘Sober October’: Doctor talks medication to help limit alcohol consumption

JACKSON, Tenn. — October is a month where many people attempt to give up alcohol. A “sober October” can provide many different health benefits for you.

It can help you have better control of your blood pressure. It can reduce heartburn and stomach pain.

Alcohol causes you to be dehydrated, so giving it up can also increase skin health.

Anxiety and depression can come from alcohol, so these can be reduced as well.

And your sleep can be improved, as well as many other things.

If you struggle to limit your alcohol consumption, there is a medication that may be able to help you.

“People who just drink too much on occasion, can take this pill, 50 milligrams of naltrexone, before they go into a drinking situation and find that they can stop drinking after one or two drinks, where normally they would have five, six, seven or eight drinks,” said Dr. Joseph R. Volpicelli.

For those suffering from alcohol use disorder, medication assisted treatment can be combined with psychotherapy to help reduce heavy drinking days.

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