Effective Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorders

In the past 20 to 30 years, other medication options—including naltrexone and acamprosate—have emerged. Both of these drugs are FDA-approved, and neither works by making you ill when you drink. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. Antabuse is not available OTC and requires a prescription from a doctor.

Topiramate facilitates GABA function and antagonizes glutamate, which should decrease mesocorticolimbic dopamine after alcohol and reduce cravings. One double-blinded trial with 150 subjects for 12 weeks suggests this is the case (decreased drinking, decreased craving, and greater abstinence). Topiramate is not approved for this use by the US Food and Drug Administration. Naltrexone, which blocks endorphins and reduces the euphoria of intoxication, was approved in the United States for the treatment of alcohol dependence nearly 30 years ago.

Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

According to research, medications seem to be a positive part of the most effective combination for treatment for alcohol use disorders. Research shows that naltrexone works best for people who have already stopped drinking for at least 4 days when they begin treatment. You take it daily as a pill or get a monthly injection at your health care professional’s office. The medication can help you have fewer days when you drink heavily as well as drink less overall. Yet medications for alcohol use disorder can work well for people who want to stop drinking or drink a lot less.

One drawback is that you must take two pills three times every day. “If you don’t like taking pills, you already take too many pills, or you aren’t good at remembering to take pills, then this would be a tricky one,” he says. A local hospital or your https://www.excel-medical.com/5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-living-house/ doctor can also connect you with a support group. Treating any and all alcohol-related problems can improve your quality of life and your chances of staying sober. Remember that changing deep habits is hard, takes time, and requires repeated efforts.

How long will I take naltrexone?

While the specific mechanisms through which acamprosate works to treat AUD remain under investigation, it is thought to act on the glutamatergic system as an N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor partial co-agonist [35]. This may reduce neuronal hyperexcitability, a phenomenon that occurs in acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence from alcohol. Both rat and mouse studies showed decreased alcohol consumption with the spironolactone injections.

• You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible.
• Vivitrol does not appear to be a hepatotoxin at recommended doses but patients should be warned of risk of hepatic injury.
• Additionally, depending on the severity of alcohol dependence, withdrawal from alcohol can have life-threatening side effects and should be completed under the supervision of medical staff in an alcohol rehab treatment facility.
• Naltrexone blocks opiate receptors and works by decreasing the craving for alcohol, resulting in fewer relapses.

Topiramate even seems to work better than naltrexone in some studies. The latest research indicates that alcohol consumption increases risks for more than 200 health problems, including heart disease, liver disease, depression, anxiety, stroke and cancer. And experts stress that those increased risks are incurred at every level of consumption — from a drink or two a day to heavier habits.

Struggling With Alcohol? Medication May be Able to Help

Further, doxazosin significantly reduced voluntary ethanol intake in a rodent model of AUD and stress exposure [205]. Recovering from alcoholism is a lifelong commitment that takes time and hard work. Get in touch with a treatment providers today to learn more about the recovery process. Implants are the newest form of naltrexone being used in rehab facilities and clinics. A small implant is inserted under a patient’s skin, which slowly releases the medication into the body for roughly eight weeks. Since this option doesn’t require daily or weekly medical attention, it is convenient for people who are receiving treatment at an outpatient treatment center.

But it is typically prescribed for patients with more severe alcohol disorders to take daily to abstain from drinking. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several different medications to treat Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders. These relieve the withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body. Medications used for treatment are evidence-based treatment options. Just as some people with diabetes or asthma may have flare-ups of their disease, a relapse to drinking can be seen as a temporary setback to full recovery and not a complete failure. Seeking professional help can prevent relapse—behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking.

Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance. Naltrexone can be administered as a tablet, injectable or implant. Before starting treatment, discuss each option with your health provider to determine the right form for you. IM administration of Vivitrol reduces first-pass hepatic metabolism as compared with oral naltrexone. A recent study suggested the use of a decades-old medicine taken before imbibing could reduce the amount of alcohol consumed. You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible.

The balance of these systems in the brain of a person who has been drinking heavily for a long time gets thrown off, Holt says. “Acamprosate is designed to level out those abnormalities and provide some stability.” Overcoming alcohol use disorder is an ongoing process, one which can include setbacks. Scientists are working to develop a larger menu of pharmaceutical treatments that could be tailored to individual needs. As more medications become available, people may be able to try multiple medications to find which they respond to best.