title: Medications to treat alcoholism.
abstract: Advances in neurobiology support the development of medications to treat alcoholism by modifying the activity of specific chemical messengers (i.e., neurotransmitters) in the brain. Among the most promising new medications is acamprosate, which appears to decrease the intensity of craving after a person has stopped drinking. Naltrexone (ReVia) has been shown to decrease alcohol consumption, although its practical effectiveness may be compromised by poor patient compliance and other factors. Ondansetron shows promise for decreasing drinking and increasing abstinence rates among early onset alcoholics, who respond poorly to psychosocial treatment alone. Researchers are investigating whether the use of specific medications in combination can further enhance their effectiveness. Additional research is needed to determine how medications interact with different psychosocial factors and treatments.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ait-Daoud
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013654:Taurine