There is no treatment for alcoholism. At this moment prevention is the only cure. Specific problems such as cravings, associated with alcohol use can be handled with the aid of drug therapy. Research is underway to develop new drugs that address other symptoms of alcoholism. Presently, there are three primary drug therapies used to combat alcoholism. Antabuse causes a severe negative reaction in individuals who drink. When mixed with alcohol, antabuse can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from sweating to convulsions. The idea is to associate drinking with these adverse reactions so the individual is less interested in drinking. Antabuse does not address the actual physical craving an alcohol experiences. Antabuse has significant risk to the user and should only be used by individuals serious about not drinking.
Unlike Antabuse, Naltrexone actually reduces the physical cravings associated with alcohol dependency. This drug therapy is available in an extended release formula. Generally the pill is prescribed for a specific period of time, such as ten to twelve weeks, as assistance when someone completely stops drinking. This is to prevent relapse which is likely during the early stages of recovery. Naltrexone is also available as an injection. As with any drug therapy, there are possible side effects with this drug. Side effects include joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety. Campral is the third drug available. Campral helps reestablish chemi...
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