Medication for Alcoholism, Withdrawal & Cravings

Medications used to treat alcohol addiction work in different ways. Disulfiram causes unpleasant reactions when combined with alcohol. Naltrexone reduces cravings for alcohol and prevents pleasurable effects caused by drinking. Acamprosate curbs cravings for alcohol. Each drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder, when used in combination with behavioral therapy and other support services. These three alcohol medications come in pill form, and naltrexone also comes in injectable form. Other drugs, such as Topamax (topiramate) or Valium (diazepam), may be prescribed to relieve some symptoms of withdrawal. Topamax and other anticonvulsants can relieve seizures associated with alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines such as Valium can treat a serious withdrawal symptom called delirium tremens, according to a guide on medications for alcohol use disorder created by the federal government. Treatment facilities may provide medications during alcohol rehab to curb cravings and alleviate symptoms of withdrawal, which commonly occur during detox. People can take disulfiram and naltrexone after treatment and alongside continued therapy to aid alcohol recovery.

Marta Nelson of The Recovery Village explains how benzodiazepines such as Librium and Ativan can be used to relieve some withdrawal symptoms caused by alcohol cessation.

Medications to Curb Alcohol Cravings

When a person addicted to alcohol quits drinking, the brain craves the substance. Cravings can increase the risk of alcohol relapse, but many medications can reduce urges to drink.

Naltrexone

In addition to blocking the pleasurable effects caused by alcohol, naltrexone can curb cravings for the substance. A naltrexone pill is taken daily to relieve cravings, and the injectable form is taken monthly. Naltrexone is most effective in patients who have shown an ability to quit drinking before they receive the medication, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Acamprosate

Chronic alcohol use disrupts brain chemistry. Acamprosate helps normalize brain chemistry, which reduces cravings. Doctors prescribe acamprosate after a person is finished with withdrawal. The drug may not be effective if you take it while drinking alcohol, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Topiramate

Topiramate may reduce cravings for alcohol even if a patient is still drinking when he or she takes it. Numerous studies support its safety and effectiveness, according to a 2015 review published in the journal CNS Drugs. Doctors can legally prescribe the drug to reduce craving for alcohol, but the FDA has not approved it for alcoholism.

Alcohol Detox & Withdrawal Medications

Medications used while detoxing from alcohol treat symptoms of withdrawal, but they don’t prevent withdrawal. The only way to prevent alcohol withdrawal is to drink alcohol. Some types of drug withdrawal can be prevented with medication. For example, heroin withdrawal occurs when parts of the brain called receptors don’t receive heroin. Buprenorphine is a medication that attaches to the same receptors that heroin attaches to, preventing withdrawal. No known medication can prevent alcoholics from going into withdrawal when they don’t drink, but some medications can relieve symptoms of withdrawal to make it more comfortable.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures. The class of drugs, which includes Valium, Xanax (alprazolam) and Klonopin (clonazepam), is often considered the first approach to alcohol withdrawal treatment. Benzos can treat seizures and delirium tremens, the most serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Adrenergic Medications

Adrenergic medications, such as Catapres (clonidine) and Precedex (dexmedetomidine), may relieve some symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including elevated pulse and high blood pressure. The class of drugs is also referred to as alpha-2 agonists. They’re generally used to treat minor withdrawal symptoms, and they’re often prescribed alongside benzodiazepines.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants, or anti-seizure medications, can be used as alternatives to benzodiazepines to treat or prevent seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal. However, they are less likely to prevent delirium tremens. Anticonvulsants used during alcohol withdrawal include Tegretol (carbamazepine) and Depakene (valproic acid). Several types of medications are used during treatment for alcoholism. Medications for alcoholism, such as disulfiram and naltrexone, aid alcohol recovery when used alongside therapy. Other medications can relieve withdrawal symptoms during detox.

Author

Chris Elkins, MA,

Senior Content Writer, DrugRehab.com

Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications. Since 2015, he’s written about health-related topics, interviewed addiction experts and authored stories of recovery. Chris has a master’s degree in strategic communication and a graduate certificate in health communication.

[email protected]

@ChrisTheCritic9

Editor

,

,

Medical Reviewer

Ashraf Ali, MD

Psychiatrist, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Was this article helpful?

Yes No

How helpful would you rate this article?

Name

Email Address

Please let us know the reasons for your rating.

loading

Send Feedback

Thanks for helping us make our website better for visitors like you!

View Sources

• Guglielmo, R. et al. (2015, April 22). Topiramate in Alcohol Use Disorders: Review and Update. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40263-015-0244-0
• Johnson, B.A. & Ait-Daoud, N. (2011, March 24). Topiramate in the New Generation of Drugs: Efficacy in the Treatment of Alcoholic Patients. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3063512/
• Myrick, H. & Anton, R.F. (1998). Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal. Retrieved from https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh22-1/38-43.pdf
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2005). Acamprosate: A New Medication for Alcohol Use Disorders. Retrieved from https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/MS974/MS974.pdf
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Medication for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Brief Guide. Retrieved from https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA15-4907/SMA15-4907.pdf
• U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2010, November 1). Disulfiram. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682602.html
• U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2010, November 1). Naltrexone Injection. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a609007.html
• U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016, May 15). Acamprosate. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604028.html
• U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2017, October 15). Naltrexone. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a685041.html