Is There Medication for Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol addiction, formally known as alcohol use disorder, is rampant, affecting more than 10% of people in the U.S. over the age of 12. Treatment of alcohol use disorder involves therapy and may also include the use of certain approved medications. There are medications for the management of alcohol withdrawal, and medications that treat the disorder itself.

Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder is defined as an impaired ability to stop drinking despite negative consequences, and can be mild, moderate, or severe. If you think that you may have an alcohol use disorder, ask yourself the following questions.

• Have you had episodes when you drank more or longer than you intended?
• Have you wanted more than once to reduce or stop your drinking but couldn’t?
• Have you spent a lot of time drinking or being sick from drinking?
• Have you wanted a drink so badly that you couldn’t think of anything else?
• Have you found that drinking or being sick from drinking interfered with you taking care of responsibilities?
• Have you continued to drink despite it causing trouble with relationships?
• Have you chosen to drink instead of participating in activities that you enjoy?
• Have you engaged in risky behavior when drinking?
• Have you continued to drink despite it causing a mental health or health problem?
• Have you had to drink more to get the same effects?
• Have you had withdrawal symptoms when not drinking?

If you answered yes to 2 or 3 questions, your disorder would be considered mild, 4 to 5 is moderate, and 6 or more would constitute a severe alcohol use disorder.

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Three medications are approved for treating alcohol use disorder.

Acamprosate

Acamprosate can help with relapse prevention after you have stopped drinking. How it works is not fully understood, but it’s believed to restore the balance of neurotransmitters that are disrupted by chronic alcohol use. This seems to reduce alcohol cravings.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks receptors in the brain that produce rewards, essentially removing the positive reinforcement that you get from drinking. This seems to reduce or prevent heavy drinking and reduce alcohol cravings.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram reduces the risk of relapse by causing unpleasant effects when you’re taking disulfiram and you drink alcohol. These effects include nausea, vomiting, fast heart rate, and headaches. It can also cause more severe reactions, such as chest pains, difficulty breathing, and heart failure. The risk of these symptoms is obviously a deterrent to relapsing.

Medications for Alcohol Withdrawal

Withdrawal from alcohol can not only be extremely uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous. That’s why a medically supervised detox is the first step in alcohol addiction treatment. Certain medications may be given during this detox period to make you comfortable, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and minimize the risk of withdrawal complications.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can reduce the risk of withdrawal related seizures.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants can also reduce the risk of seizures and may be used concurrently with benzodiazepines.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates may be used in severe withdrawal cases when benzodiazepines don’t work. They are often used in emergency rooms or in the ICU for treating severe withdrawal.

Therapy for Alcohol Addiction

It’s important to understand that alcohol addiction cannot be treated with medication alone. Medication is just one part of a complete treatment program that includes therapy, preferably in an inpatient setting.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common and effective therapy used to treat alcohol addiction. The foundation of CBT is learning to recognize and control negative or destructive thoughts by rethinking them in a reasonable, reality-based way. For example, people with alcohol addiction often have thoughts such as “I can just drink socially.” In CBT, they learn why this is not rational, and to turn the thought around into something like “I don’t have control of my alcohol use. I have to stop completely. I’ll be a healthier, happier person if I do.”

CBT also teaches coping skills and problem-solving skills to help you deal with life’s challenges without turning to alcohol.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is another common treatment for alcohol addiction. It’s similar to CBT, but focuses more on regulating emotions and being present in the moment.

Motivational interviewing is another method, which involves setting goals and building motivation to meet those goals.

Both inpatient and after care outpatient programs also involve peer support in the form of group therapy. Patients are able to discuss experiences and emotions, learn more about the nature of addiction, and share strategies for coping and preventing relapse. This kind of support has proven to be invaluable in alcohol addiction treatment.

Many patients also continue to find this support after treatment in peer support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Help is Available

Alcohol addiction is very treatable with both medication and therapy. You just have to take the first step and reach out for help. Give us a call at Bridges of Hope, and we can discuss your treatment options with you without judgment. We understand what you’re going through and offer personalized treatment based on your individual needs. With support and treatment, you can move on to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.