There are three oral medications—disulfiram also know as (Antabuse®), naltrexone also know as (Depade®, ReVia®), and acamprosate also know as (Campral®) that are currently approved to treat alcoholism and alcohol dependence. In addition, an injectable, long-acting form of naltrexone (Vivitrol®) is also available. These three medications have been shown to help people reduce their dependence on alcohol and reduce their drinking. Many people have been able to avoid relapse to heavy drinking, and to achieve and maintain abstinence from alcohol. The drug Naltrexone acts in the brain to reduce the craving for alcohol once someone has stopped drinking. The drug Acamprosate also acts in the brain by reducing symptoms like anxiety and insomnia that follow a lengthy abstinence from alcohol. The drug Disulfiram discourages you from drinking by making you feel sick after drinking alcohol.
There are other types of drugs that are available to help manage symptoms of withdrawal (like shakiness, nausea, and sweating) especially if those symptoms occur after someone with alcohol dependence stops drinking.
Although medications are available to help treat alcoholism, counseling and group meetings should be attended as well Basically, no single medication is available that works in every case and/or in every person. Researchers are working to develop new and more effective medications to treat alcoholism..
Does alcoholism treatment work?
Alcoholism treatment works for many people. But like other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Most people stop drinking and remain sober. Others will have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With treatment, one thing is clear, however: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober.