Alcoholism: Developing Drugs for Treatment

We focus on the lowest effective dose to decrease side effect potential while still maintaining the highest effectiveness of the medication. Our medication-assisted treatment program in West Palm Beach not only provides medication to treat a person’s physical addiction, but we also provide counseling and social support to treat the psychological and emotional aspects of alcoholism as well. Naltrexone, an antagonist of opioid receptors in the brain, is a prescription medication that is available in oral (Revia) and long-acting injectable (Vivitrol) formulations. Both formulations are indicated for the treatment of alcohol use disorder, but only the long-acting injectable formulation is indicated for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

• Naltrexone significantly improved abstinence rates and decreased rates of alcohol-related consequences over the course of the 16-week treatment.
• With the availability of several FDA-approved medications, a provider may recommend a trial with a new medication should an individual patient not respond to the first medication tried.
• Extended-release naltrexone appears to be well suited for use in primary care settings.
• Acamprosate treatment typically begins on the fifth day of abstinence and is most effective within 5-8 days after this specific MAT begins.
• “You can commit to taking Antabuse every day while the other person watches,” he says.

Unhealthy drinking and alcohol misuse often co-occur with anxiety and can serve as a coping mechanism for anxious thoughts. So when you stop or reduce your alcohol consumption, it’s common to feel more intense anxious feelings. Integrated treatment also helps address co-occurring disorders, trauma, family therapy, and more to provide a whole-patient approach.

Recovery Connection

Based on preliminary research that suggests aldosterone and MR may contribute to alcohol seeking and consumption, the authors were interested in spironolactone since it can possibly reduce that desire. One of the main reasons researchers studied spironolactone is because the medication is in the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist drug class. Additionally, the AHRQ says men are more likely to develop the disorder than women. They predict that 17% of men and 8% of women will develop alcohol use disorder at some point.

Because benzodiazepines work on the same receptors of the brain as alcohol, these drugs are often administered during the acute detoxification phase. Oftentimes, the individual is immediately given the drug to mitigate the dangerous withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism and then slowly tapered off. Typically, benzodiazepines are only administered during the initial alcohol detoxification phase.

What are other possible serious side effects of VIVITROL?

Identifying 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. By extending the continuum of care to primary care settings, many people who do not currently receive specialty care may have increased access to treatment. In addition, primary care providers, by virtue of their ongoing relationships with patients may be able to provide continuing care interventions. Medication use with hazardous drinkers who may not be alcohol dependent may promote reduced drinking and likely will reduce the burden of excessive drinking. Many alcohol-dependent individuals also smoke cigarettes, and researchers have investigated the potential role of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) system as a factor in both addictive behaviors (for a review, see Chatterjee and Bartlett 2010).

It addresses patterns of use and the drug screening and treatment needs of women. This guide helps substance use counselors treat clients with symptoms sober house of depression and substance use conditions. Program administrators will learn how to integrate depression treatment into early drug treatment.