At present, the drug is approved only for intravenous use for opiate addiction. Most studies are of short duration, and more long-term trials are needed. In short-term studies when naltrexone was stopped, patients relapsed. Naltrexone has a greater effect on reducing relapse to heavy drinking than it does on maintaining abstinence. Extended-release intramuscular naltrexone resulted in reduced relapse to heavy drinking in a large, randomized trial. The main adverse effects are nausea and/or vomiting, abdominal pain, sleepiness, and nasal congestion.

Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that’s changing medicine. Katie Witkiewitz, the director of the Center on Alcohol, Substance Use and Addictions at the University of New Mexico, said the drugs’ patents had expired, so cheap generic versions were available — but their original makers no longer advertise them. Choose a symptom and answer simple questions using our physician-reviewed Symptom Checker to find a possible diagnosis for your health issue. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. For those who don’t want to take a pill every day, naltrexone is also available in a shot.

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Taking this regularly after detox can stop the “high” experience of alcohol if they relapse, disassociating the feelings of positivity and alcohol. Each medication serves a different purpose and must be used during different stages of recovery. Taking them at the wrong time, inconsistently, or the wrong dosage can result in painful side effects.

• As reviewed by Krishnan-Sarin and colleagues (2008), several other medications show some clinical evidence of efficacy.
• Prescribed after alcohol has been purged from the body, Acamprosate is used to fight the urge to drink after detox.
• Naltrexone blocks opiate receptors and works by decreasing the craving for alcohol, resulting in fewer relapses.
• 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.

Researchers also are studying agents that may address the relationship between stress and alcohol consumption. Prazosin, an α-1 adrenergic antagonist that is effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has shown preliminary efficacy in a small pilot study with 24 alcohol-dependent patients without PTSD (Simpson et al. 2009). Other targets for new treatments are receptors for stress-related neuropeptides, including corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P, nociceptin (George et al. 2008; Heilig and Egli 2006), and inhibitors of ALDH-2 (Overstreet et al. 2009). Because it is metabolized by the liver, hepatotoxicity is possible, although uncommon. Patients with AUD may have liver dysfunction; therefore, caution is warranted. People who have alcohol use disorder drink regularly and in large amounts.

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This is why people sometimes resort to alcohol in order to relax and “let loose.” Unfortunately, relying on alcohol to bring happiness can lead to a dangerous cycle of alcohol addiction. Many alcohol treatment centers administer naltrexone during the early stages of recovery. This medication works by blocking the body’s receptors that produce euphoric feelings when you drink. 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. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 July 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 10 July 2023), ASHP (updated 10 July 2023) and others.

The system of care that evolved carried with it a “personal” focus with peer teachings spread by word of mouth. These teachings and the surrounding attitudes and belief systems emphasize self-reliance and the belief that healing can take place solely within the community of addicted people and that no medical intervention is necessary. Addiction treatment programs sprang forth from Alcoholics Anonymous (Alcoholics Anonymous 1976) and other step-based movements. The resulting system of care possesses, at its core, a philosophical belief that total abstinence is gained not through the use of medication to treat alcohol dependence but instead through blood, sweat, and personal tears working through the 12 steps.

Get help for alcoholism today.

Similar clinical management strategies for unhealthy alcohol use and alcohol use disorders have been developed. However, despite convincing data supporting the value of evidence-based screening techniques, brief interventions, and medication approaches, primary care settings rarely use these tools (D’Amico et al. 2005). Identifying sober house and treating people with alcohol use disorders remains a challenge. With the advent of pharmacotherapy and models of counseling appropriate for use in primary care settings as well as in specialty care, clinicians have new tools to manage the spectrum of alcohol problems across the spectrum of patients and settings.

Last year, N.I.H. officials proposed rebranding these stages as “preaddiction” to underscore the need for early intervention, much as the diabetes field improved care by identifying and treating prediabetes. But it is considered a major risk factor for alcohol-related illness and injuries, and it heightens the possibility that an individual will develop an alcohol disorder. Ever wake up regretting the last round of drinks from the previous night?

Medications for the Treatment of AUD

If you suspect you or someone you know is experiencing this form of withdrawal, seek medical attention immediately. Delirium tremens may prove highly dangerous and even life-threatening if left untreated. Some people receiving VIVITROL treatment have had a type of pneumonia that is caused by an allergic reaction. If this happens to you, you may need to be treated in the hospital. Call 911 or get emergency medical help right away in all cases of known or suspected opioid overdose, even if naloxone is administered.

• Some studies suggest that simply getting help — whether through medication, counseling, or both — is what matters for successful management of this addiction.
• These relieve the withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body.
• Naltrexone significantly improved abstinence rates and decreased rates of alcohol-related consequences over the course of the 16-week treatment.
• Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 July 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 10 July 2023), ASHP (updated 10 July 2023) and others.
• Do not drink alcohol or take sedatives while taking St. John’s wort.