No single medication works for every alcoholic. Medications for alcoholism are continuing to be tested. There are drugs to help reduce the need for alcohol and medications that deal the symptoms of quitting. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for alcohol abuse. They have been used successfully for many people to achieve abstinence and avoid relapse. The latest medication, topiramate, has shown encouraging results in clinical trials, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone works in the brain to inhibit cravings for alcohol when the person stops drinking. It does this by blocking opioid receptors to reduce the effects for the need of alcohol. Naltrexone is an oral medication. An injectable version of naltrexone is used as a long-acting form of medication.
Acamprosate
Acamprosate helps reduce symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia when a person quits drinking. It has limited side effects and can be used with other medications with no interactions. Patients who go into relapse can still use the drug without worrying about harmful side effects in hopes of coming back to abstinence.
Disulfiram
Disulfiram is used to make a person feel very sick after drinking. Symptoms may include palpitations, flushing, nausea, vomiting and headache. Disulfiram has been around for decades. Many people who quit drinking have used the medication with success. But its main function is to cause sickness when alcohol is consumed.
Topiramate
Topiramate, which is approved by the FDA for seizures and migraine headaches, may be a wonder drug because of its effectiveness in decreasing heavy drinking, according to researchers at the University of Virginia Health System. The drug also lowers liver enzymes, plasma cholesterol, body mass index and blood pressure. These effects are increased by heavy drinking and can lead to heart disease and cirrhosis. The research was published in the June 9, 2008, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Many alcoholics have to take antihypertension medication, which can complicate or threaten their attempts to stop drinking. By lowering liver enzymes, topiramate may also reduce the risk of fatty liver disease, a problem for alcoholics. The drug also helps reduce the compulsion to drink, the researchers say.
Withdrawal Medication
Various drugs are also available that treat the withdrawal symptoms of a recovering alcoholic. Symptoms include shakiness, sweating, nausea and other uncomfortable feelings. Some withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they can lead to hallucinations and convulsions. These medications are used to get the alcoholic through he initial detoxification process.
