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The Sober Docs
Join Dr. Kali Theis, a Board Certified Pediatrician and a recovering alcoholic as she delves into the world of addiction and mental health in healthcare. She’ll share her personal journey with alcoholism and recovery with honest stories, expert guests, and additional resources.
Whether you're a healthcare provider struggling with addiction or just interested in learning more, all are welcome here on The Sober Doc.
The Sober Docs
17. Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
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Dr. Kali Theis celebrates two years sober and addresses stigma around medication for alcohol use disorder, emphasizing she is not an addiction medicine physician and the episode is educational, not medical advice. She explains why willpower alone often fails due to alcohol’s effects on brain reward pathways, stress hormones, impulse control, sleep, mood, and cravings, and frames medication as one tool among many. She reviews common options: naltrexone (daily tablet or monthly injection, with her preference for the injection), acamprosate (to support abstinence and reduce prolonged withdrawal), disulfiram/Antabuse (deterrent via unpleasant reaction), and off-label options like gabapentin and topiramate (noting her vision side effect). She also discusses promising GLP-1 agonists and her personal benefit. She stresses medications aren’t a magic fix, compares treatment to diabetes care, urges individualized plans with qualified clinicians, and encourages healthcare professionals to seek help without shame.
00:00 Welcome and Milestone
00:31 Medication Is Not Cheating
01:55 Why Willpower Fails
03:05 Naltrexone Explained
04:30 Acamprosate and Abstinence
05:00 Disulfiram Antabuse
05:48 Off Label Options
06:26 GLP1s and Cravings
07:32 Meds Plus Recovery Work
09:06 Stigma and Individual Plans
10:40 Healthcare Pros Get Help
11:18 Build Your Full Plan
12:35 Closing and Share
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