Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (cont.)
Which medications treat
alcoholism?
Three oral medications—disulfiram (Antabuse®), naltrexone (Depade®, ReVia®),
and acamprosate (Campral®)—are currently approved to treat alcohol dependence.
In addition, an injectable, long-acting form of naltrexone (Vivitrol®) is
available. These medications have been shown to help people with dependence
reduce their drinking, avoid relapse to heavy drinking, and achieve and maintain
abstinence. Naltrexone acts in the brain to reduce craving for alcohol after
someone has stopped drinking. Acamprosate is thought to work by reducing
symptoms that follow lengthy abstinence, such as anxiety and insomnia.
Disulfiram discourages drinking by making the person taking it feel sick after
drinking alcohol.
Other types of drugs are available to help manage symptoms of withdrawal
(such as shakiness, nausea, and sweating) if they occur after someone with
alcohol dependence stops drinking.
Although medications are available to help treat alcoholism, there is no
"magic bullet." In other words, no single medication is available that works in
every case and/or in every person. Developing new and more effective medications
to treat alcoholism remains a high priority for researchers.
Does alcoholism treatment
work?
Alcoholism treatment works for many people. But like other chronic illnesses,
such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, there are varying levels of
success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain sober.
Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others
cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With treatment, one thing is clear,
however: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she
will be able to stay sober.
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