Thanks to years of research, doctors and health professionals now have multiple options to treat alcohol use disorders. Building on this progress, scientists continue to work on the development of new medications and are discovering new ways to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, quality, and cost-effectiveness of treatment. Naltrexone is a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. Naltrexone can be prescribed by any health care practitioner licensed to prescribe medications. Kudzu extract is a herbal remedy that may help minimize alcohol cravings and reduce heavy drinking episodes.6 Kudzu extract originates from the root of a Japanese plant.
Disulfiram
Acamprosate has been approved in several European countries for the treatment of alcohol dependence (see Geerlings et al. 1997) and is currently undergoing clinical testing in the United States (Litten et al. 1996). A healthcare professional can create a treatment plan and refer a person to specialized care if necessary. There are many treatment options available, and a doctor can help determine the best course of action for each individual.
Medications and Alcohol Craving
- The three sessions were separated by 2 to 3 weeks and occurred on the evening in which the last dose of naltrexone or the placebo had been administered.
- Anyone with kidney or liver issues should not take naltrexone without guidance from a healthcare professional.
- Therefore, a person should speak with a healthcare professional for further guidance.
It works by causing a severe adverse reaction when someone taking the medication consumes alcohol. Up to half of people with AUD will experience some withdrawal symptoms when easing off alcohol, experts say. These can include irritability, agitation, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, insomnia, increased anxiety, sweating, nausea and vomiting. Heavy drinkers may need hands-on medical care and monitoring, or a proper “detox” in a health care facility, to manage their symptoms. The observation that buspirone reduces alcohol consumption in alcohol-drinking rats led to human studies with nonanxious alcohol-dependent patients.
List of medications for AUD
In a study of 50 alcoholic subjects in treatment, Bruno (1989) found reduced drinking, less craving, and improved social and psychological status in patients receiving buspirone. Following repeated administration of alcohol, the brain attempts to restore normal function through physiological adjustments (i.e., counteradaptations) that tend to reduce alcohol’s initial sedating effects (Roberts and Koob 1997). When a person terminates a prolonged drinking session, these counteradaptations are unopposed, resulting in signs and symptoms of acute withdrawal. During this period, craving may represent a desire to self-medicate the anxiety and hyperexcitability that accompany this state. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers.
Other Medications That May Reduce Alcohol Cravings
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. Acamprosate is better for maintaining abstinence, while Naltrexone is more effective in reducing drug addiction treatment heavy drinking and cravings.
Naltrexone
- A healthcare professional may decide if disulfiram is suitable for someone who has diabetes or is over 60 years old.
- PIP claims are currently rising by roughly 1,000 claims a day, an increase that means more than 3.6m people are now eligible for PIP, up from 2.4m before the Covid lockdowns.
- In this study, craving was assessed as the urge to drink as rated on a seven-point scale.
- If you have a dependence on alcohol and want to stop drinking, you can talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for Acamprosate.
It was assessed and tested for 7 years and approved by the French government to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 1988. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
Pills can help some people quit — or curb — their drinking
Successful recovery from alcohol addiction requires a comprehensive approach that includes professional support, curb alcohol cravings lifestyle changes, and strong personal commitment. National Institutes of Health published a studyshowing that semaglutide reduced alcohol drinking in rodents. If you want to stop drinking, Nancy Beste, an addiction therapist in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, recommends talking to your doctor about the best way to do so. It may turn out that you’re a good candidate for one of three federally approved medications on the market.
With the Sinclair Method, people only take Revia or Vivitrol before drinking and never otherwise. Revia and Vivitrol are not like other anti-alcohol drugs that cause intense sickness and hangover sensations when taken with alcohol. 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.