Medicinal Treatments of Alcohol Addiction

Three main drugs are prescribed to help recovering alcoholics in their treatment. Learn more about naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram.

In the past, people who were struggling with alcohol addiction had only one means of help offered to them — quitting cold turkey. It’s little wonder that the success rate for treating alcoholism was so low until recently. Modern science has taught us that alcoholism is more than just a mental weakness on the part of the patient — it’s a chronic disease which causes severe changes to a person’s brain along with the rest of their body.

Recent developments have also changed how alcoholism is treated in alcohol and drug rehab clinics across the country. Along with a more holistic approach — including treatment of mental disorders and other underlying causes that caused people to drink in the first place — modern treatments for alcoholism can also include the use of select prescription drugs. While one pill can’t “cure” an alcoholic, several drugs have shown positive results in helping people who are committed to treatment change their lives.

Here is a look at three of the most common drugs used during the treatment process at alcohol rehabilitation clinics in the United States:

Naltrexone: This is the most common prescription drug treatment for alcoholism in the United States. It is effective because it blocks the opioid receptors that cause alcoholics to receive pleasure from drinking. Over time, naltrexone trains the brains of recovering alcoholics to no longer crave alcohol because they are not getting the needed positive sensations after drinking. It is very effective as a drug that provides a gateway to sobriety after patients finish treatment at alcohol rehab centers by reducing the likelihood of a heavy relapse.

Acamprosate: Frequently prescribed during alcohol rehab for people who are attempting to quit after having developed severe alcohol problems, acamprosate helps to heal damage caused by years of excessive drinking. Long-term alcoholism can do significant damage to the brain, causing severe withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, anxiety and paranoia that can linger for years. Acamprosate helps to reduce these feelings by essentially “patching” the problem areas inside a person’s brain and attempting to rewire it to work properly again.

Disulfiram: Unlike the other two drugs mentioned above that are frequently used in an alcohol addiction center, disulfiram uses negative reinforcement to attempt to dissuade alcoholics from drinking. After a person takes disulfiram, even the slightest amount of alcohol will make them extremely nauseous. This is a highly effective treatment for people who are committed to their sobriety.