Specifically, 32 percent of those receiving extended-release naltrexone (380 mg) remained abstinent over 6 months compared with 11 percent of those receiving placebo. Acamprosate, also sold under the brand name, Campral, is one of the most common medications used in MAT for alcohol abuse disorder. This drug is known to reduce cravings and minimize alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Acamprosate changes the brain’s chemistry and functionality, ultimately reducing the brain’s dependence on alcohol. Acamprosate does not prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms and should only be administered once the individual has completely detoxed from alcohol.

Administered in tablet form, this medication is to be taken three times a day. Acamprosate treatment typically begins on the fifth day of abstinence and is most effective within 5-8 days after this specific MAT begins. Nalmefene is another opioid antagonist, and it blocks delta, kappa, and mu receptors; naltrexone acts primarily on mu receptors.

Studies of Medication Use in Primary Care

That’s why some clinics prescribe alcohol treatment medications to help manage symptoms of withdrawal, cravings, and potential relapse. Medication is not a cure for alcoholism, but several have been proven to help in recovery when used as part of an overall plan involving counseling, group therapy, and social support. Naltrexone was actually first discovered as a potential medication for the treatment of opioid addiction.

Disulfiram, popularly known as Antabuse, isn’t prescribed until after the alcohol has been purged from the body. The effects of Disulfiram persist up to 14 days after the last dose, covering the time where a dose may have been missed or a user stops taking it to try and feel the positive effects of alcohol. When quitting alcohol, it’s key to rebalance your body and brain, Beste stresses.

Researchers

Other people might only need to take the medication at times when they know they’ll feel triggered to drink. For example, if someone usually relapses at the holidays or the anniversary of the death of a loved one, they might decide with their doctor to take it just around that time, Schmidt says. Your doctor may suggest a medicine to help treat your alcohol use disorder.

As reviewed by Mason and Crean (2007), the European studies of acamprosate typically enrolled participants who had completed inpatient detoxification and then received standard care as outpatients. Naltrexone significantly improved abstinence rates and decreased rates of alcohol-related consequences over the course of the 16-week treatment. Given that access to specialty care often is limited in rural communities, the potential of incorporating pharmacotherapy into primary care practice could help reduce important health disparities resulting from limited access to treatment. Extended-release naltrexone, a formulation that only requires a monthly injection, holds the potential to minimize problems with medication adherence.

Acamprosate (Campral)

Research is being done in an attempt to identify predictors of patient response to FDA–approved treatments. In a secondary analysis of a U.S. acamprosate trial, patients with a strong commitment to abstinence benefited from acamprosate (Mason et al. 2006). However, several hypothesized predictors of acamprosate response, including high physiological dependence, late age-of-onset, and serious anxiety symptoms, did not predict differential response in a pooled analysis of data from https://www.healthworkscollective.com/how-choose-sober-house-tips-to-focus-on/ seven placebo-controlled trials. In the COMBINE study, people with “Type A” alcohol dependence (i.e., fewer co-morbid psychiatric and substance abuse disorders) responded well to naltrexone (Bogenschutz et al. 2009). Because primary care providers may feel more comfortable managing less complicated patients, this is an encouraging finding. In the end, the promise of personalized medicine will depend on the identification of reliable predictors of differential treatment response.

Today, alcoholism is the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the United States according to the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Medication is a great supplemental treatment for alcohol abuse disorder. Extensive years of research and trials have given us access to these extremely beneficial treatment options. Medication, of course, is not the end all be all of alcohol treatment options. Your health care provider or mental health provider will ask additional questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs. Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your appointment time. Early studies with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been disappointing.

By the end of the 12-week study, those given naltrexone reported bingeing less frequently and consuming less alcohol than those who had been given a placebo, a change that lasted for up to six months. The most commonly reported side effect of naltrexone was nausea, although it was generally mild and resolved itself as people adjusted to taking the drug. The new study’s targeted approach, in which patients were advised to take the pill before they expected to drink, is less common, although studies going back decades have also demonstrated the effectiveness of the as-needed dosing method.

Patients are reminded of the risks of adverse effects when tempted to drink. Disulfiram causes nausea, vomiting, and dysphoria sober house with coincident alcohol use. If a patient asks for disulfiram and thinks it will help, it might be worth considering.

• In 2001, David Sinclair, PhD, a researcher in Finland claimed an 80 percent cure rate for alcohol dependence when anti-alcohol drugs Revia or Vivitrol are prescribed according to his Sinclair Method.
• In this 24-week study, participants received naltrexone or placebo and one of three psychosocial interventions.
• With the Sinclair Method, people only take Revia or Vivitrol before drinking and never otherwise.
• One randomized trial with 100 patients using 10 mg PO bid has been completed, and nalmefene appears to have efficacy similar to naltrexone (reduces relapse to heavy drinking in patients who sample alcohol).
• In a 6-month trial, 64 percent of participants received all 6 months of double-blind medication, translating into daily coverage for the entire treatment period (Garbutt et al. 2005).