Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder

Medication is often an effective tool in treating alcohol use disorders, yet it remains an underutilized treatment method.

Study Findings:

• A study conducted in 2006 tracked over 1,300 participants for three years to determine the optimal combination of treatment, medication, and counseling for alcohol use disorders.
• The results revealed that no single treatment approach was universally effective, but all groups studied significantly reduced their drinking during treatment.
• Surprisingly, one of the newer medications for alcoholism failed to improve treatment outcomes on its own.
• Adding either Revia or Vivitrol (naltrexone) or specialized alcohol counseling to medical management nearly doubled the chances of a positive outcome.

Commonly Used Medications:

1. Antabuse (Disulfiram):

   • Induces a severe adverse reaction when someone taking it consumes alcohol, causing vomiting.
   • This reaction acts as a deterrent to drinking.
   • Approved by the FDA in 1948 for treating alcoholism.

2. Naltrexone:

   • Blocks the "high" associated with alcohol consumption or opioid use.
   • Initially developed in 1963 for opioid addiction, it was approved by the FDA in 1984 for treating heroin, morphine, and oxycodone use.
   • Approved for treating alcohol use disorders in 1994.

3. Campral (Acamprosate):

   • Normalizes alcohol-related brain changes, reducing the physical and emotional discomfort that can lead to relapse.
   • Developed in 1982, it was approved for use in the U.S. in 2004.

The Sinclair Method:

• Developed by David Sinclair, PhD, in Finland, this method involves taking Revia or Vivitrol only before drinking and not otherwise.
• It is theorized that the medication blocks the release of feel-good endorphins associated with alcohol consumption, leading to reduced drinking or abstinence.
• Despite showing an 80% cure rate for alcohol dependence, the Sinclair Method has not gained popularity in the U.S. due to its conflict with common abstinence-based treatment plans.