Alcohol Use Disorder Medications
Some of the most common drugs used to treat alcohol use disorder are Vivitrol/Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram.
Vivitrol/Naltrexone – blocks the euphoric effects and feelings of intoxication and allows people with alcohol use disorders to reduce alcohol use and to remain motivated to continue to take the medication, stay in treatment, and avoid relapses. Vivitrol is given in the form of an injection and it is time released so a person only needs an injection every 28 days making it easier for persons in recovery.
Acamprosate – for people in recovery, who are no longer drinking alcohol and want to avoid drinking. It works to prevent people from drinking alcohol, but it does not prevent withdrawal symptoms after people drink alcohol. It has not been shown to work in people who continue drinking alcohol, consume illicit drugs, and/or abuse prescription drugs.
Disulfiram – treats chronic alcoholism and is most effective in people who have already gone through detoxification or are in the initial stage of abstinence. Offered in a tablet form and taken once a day, disulfiram should never be taken while intoxicated and it should not be taken for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol. Unpleasant side effects (nausea, headache, vomiting, chest pains, difficulty breathing) can occur as soon as ten minutes after drinking even a small amount of alcohol and can last for an hour or more.
Medications often used to help alleviate more minor withdrawal symptoms while stabilizing a patient suffering from alcohol withdrawal syndrome include a class of drugs called benzodiazepines that may include:
Lorazapam (Ativan)
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Diazepam (Valium)
Information and Enrollment
You can seek information and begin the enrollment process by clicking on the ‘Make An Appointment’ button below. Once you have submitted the necessary information a member of the IHAT team will contact you to answer any questions you might have and to schedule your first appointment.
