title: [The pharmacologic treatment of the alcohol dependence].
abstract: The pharmacological intervention can play a crucial role in the reduction of craving and drinking and the maintenance of abstinence. This article reviews pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence with an emphasis on the naltrexone, dissulfiram and acamprosate. The opioid antagonist naltrexone lowers relapse rate, reduces drinking days and prolongs periods of abstinence. Acamprosate restores the normal activity of glutamate and GABA systems. Disulfiram has been shown to be most effective for patients who believe in its efficacy and remain compliant with the treatment. Ondansetron, has shown promise in the early-onset alcohol dependence but needs more extensive study. Topiramate (up to 300 mg per day) was more efficacious than placebo in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Pesquisa Clínica, Unidade de Pesquisa em Alcool e Drogas, Departamento de Psiquiatria, EMP-UNIFESP, Brazil. castro@psiquiatria.epm.br
authors.forename: Luís André
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Danilo Antonio
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Baltieri
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D013654:Taurine; D009271:Naltrexone; D000077443:Acamprosate; D004221:Disulfiram