What medication is used during alcohol detox?.
The medication used during a medically supervised alcohol detox is a critical component of safe withdrawal management. This guide explains what is typically prescribed, how it works, and why these choices are made.
Begin your assessmentChlordiazepoxide (Librium) — the standard detox medication
Chlordiazepoxide — commonly known by the brand name Librium — is a long-acting benzodiazepine and the most widely used medication for alcohol detox in the UK. It works by enhancing the effect of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. This reduces the neurological over-stimulation that drives alcohol withdrawal symptoms and, critically, reduces the risk of seizures. Your prescriber determines your dose based on your drinking history, weight, liver function, and other clinical factors. The dose is reduced gradually over the course of your programme — typically over 7–10 days — until your body has safely readjusted.
Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Thiamine supplementation is prescribed routinely during every Ash Rehab detox programme. Heavy alcohol use causes thiamine deficiency, which can lead to Wernicke's encephalopathy — a serious neurological complication that can cause permanent brain damage. Thiamine supplementation significantly reduces this risk.
Other medications
Depending on your individual presentation, your prescriber may also prescribe medications to manage specific symptoms including nausea (antiemetics), poor sleep (short-term hypnotics where appropriate), or elevated blood pressure. All prescribing decisions are made by your named GMC-registered prescriber.
Relapse prevention medication
After detox, relapse prevention medication may be considered. Acamprosate (Campral) reduces physical cravings by stabilising brain chemistry. Naltrexone reduces the reinforcing effects of alcohol. Both are NICE-approved. Your prescriber will discuss these options with you during your programme.
Clinical note: This page is for general information only. All prescribing decisions are made by a GMC-registered prescriber following individual clinical assessment.
A prescribing doctor.
From your sofa.
Your first assessment is a 25-minute video call with a GMC-registered prescriber. No waiting room, no clinic, no disclosure to anyone you have not chosen to tell. Four short questions, answered honestly, will tell us whether a home detox is the right setting for this moment in your life.