A lot of people think that alcohol addiction medication can be used anytime to “treat” their addiction. However, there is no specific medicine that can really “cure” alcohol addiction, but some can help you recover from it. These medicines make drinking less pleasurable so you don’t want to drink as much.
Some of these medications have been available for years now but only as few as 10 percent of individuals with alcoholism who can benefit from these medications use them. These were not advertised and doctors sometimes hesitate to prescribe these medicines because they were not trained to use them in medicine school. But it has been proven that alcohol addiction can work really well for people who want to quit drinking.
Disulfiram
Disulfiram (Antabuse) was the first FDA-approved drug for alcohol use disorder. This medicine changes how an individual’s body receives alcohol into his system. What happens basically is that you get sick when you drink while taking the medicine, thereby making you drink less.
However, Disulfiram is not for everyone and many who have tried it had a hard time to continue using the medicine. If your family, your job, or a legal officer has given you an ultimatum to stop your alcohol addiction, this medicine is your best choice.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone makes your relationship with alcohol unrewarding. When you take this with alcohol, you can still feel drunk, but you don’t get the pleasure you really desire and can help ward off your cravings. The main effect of this medication is to disassociate drinking with pleasure to help you slowly quit your alcohol addiction.
Research shows that this medicine is effective for people who have already started their detoxification for at least four days. Naltrexone can be taken daily as a pill or as a monthly injection which can only be administered by a professional.
Acamprosate
This medication for alcohol addiction is prescribed to relieve withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety, which can last for days and even months once you stop drinking alcohol.
Long-Term Results
A number of research shows the effects of medications for alcohol use disorder for six to twelve months. If you are looking for the best medication and interventions that can help you on your way to sobriety, consult your physician.