Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
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Alcohol addiction, like many substance use disorders, causes various problems. These problems affect the person with the disorder and those around them.
Excessive drinking puts you at risk of immediate physical harm. It increases your risk of:
In addition to these potentially severe consequences, people who drink too much might also say or do things they regret. The risk of mistreating a loved one or making a bad decision is much higher when you drink too much.
There are also long-term risks associated with alcohol addiction. For example, people who drink too much long-term have a higher risk of:
Treatment is available for people who drink too much alcohol. For many people struggling with alcohol abuse, medication-assisted therapy is the best option.
Medications like naltrexone and disulfiram make drinking less enjoyable, reduce cravings, and make sobriety less challenging.
Two of the most common medications used to help people stop drinking are available as injections.
Naltrexone injections help people stay sober once they’ve given up drinking. It’s not appropriate for people who are still drinking.
Healthcare providers use naltrexone in conjunction with counseling and social support. It works by blocking activity in the part of the brain that plays a role in alcohol dependence.
Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, treats alcohol abuse and dependence. It is a deterrent to stop someone from drinking by triggering negative physical side effects if they do drink. It was the first FDA-approved medication used to treat alcoholism.
Antabuse works by interfering with the way the body metabolizes alcohol. It causes acetaldehyde to build up in the body to higher levels than it would naturally, increasing the unpleasant effects of drinking and hangovers.
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Vivitrol, also called naltrexone, is available in pill or injectable form. The injection form is extended-release. The drug, whether oral or intravenous, is best used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes individual counseling and other therapies.
Naltrexone is not intended for people physically dependent on alcohol or those who are actively drinking. The drug is rarely given before the detox process is complete.
Naltrexone works by binding with endorphin receptors in the body. It then blocks the pleasurable feelings derived from drinking alcohol. It reduces alcohol cravings and supports sobriety. Most people undergo Naltrexone treatment for three to four months.
Side effects of Naltrexone include:
More serious but less common side effects include:
Naltrexone is an extended-release suspension that is injected into the gluteal muscle. It’s typically given once a month for up to four months.
There are a few different types of medications used for treating alcoholism. Two of the most common are naltrexone (Vivitrol) and disulfiram (Antabuse).
Vivitrol is the injectable form of naltrexone. It’s used to treat both alcohol use disorder and opioid addiction. Combined with other alcohol addiction treatment options, it helps prevent relapse.
The medication is an opioid antagonist, which works by blocking opioid receptors. It also suppresses one’s desire to binge drink by changing how the brain and body work together and stopping the euphoria from drinking alcohol.
Vivitrol is an extended-release medication, which means after injection, it slowly releases the medication for up to a month.
Naltrexone stops people from drinking by blocking the euphoria or intoxication of drinking alcohol. You don’t experience a buzz when you drink while using naltrexone.
Over time, your craving for alcohol decreases, and you can focus on treatment and sobriety. Naltrexone does not prevent users from becoming drunk or impaired when drinking.
Naltrexone is considered relatively safe. It’s FDA-approved and frequently prescribed to those dealing with alcoholism.
However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t side effects, some of which are serious. Naltrexone treatment isn’t suitable for people with:
Pregnant women should avoid using Naltrexone unless the benefits outweigh the risks. This means it’s only suitable for women whose alcohol consumption poses a higher risk to the unborn baby than the potential risks of using the medication.
The effects of Naltrexone are usually felt within an hour. The shot lasts for approximately a month after administration.
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Although considered relatively safe, alcohol addiction shots can trigger side effects. These include:
Many of the above-listed milder side effects are usually temporary and easily managed. More serious side effects of alcohol addiction shots include:
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There are several non-injectable medications available for treating alcohol addiction. In addition to the oral forms of Naltrexone and Antabuse, other medications for treating alcoholism include:
Additionally, several anti-anxiety medications are given to alcoholics to help with co-occurring disorders. These include:
Yes. Disulfiram, also called Antabuse, makes the idea of drinking unappealing because it triggers negative physical side effects when combined with alcohol. Naltrexone gradually removes alcohol cravings by interfering with the buzz or pleasant feelings of drinking.
Vivitrol is the injectable extended-release form of naltrexone.
Yes. Disulfiram or Antabuse makes you sick when combined with alcohol.
There is no drug to replace alcohol, but there are drugs that treat disorders someone might be using alcohol to self-medicate with. For example, someone who drinks too much because of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder can instead take a prescription medication to treat anxiety symptoms.
Several drugs substitute for alcohol when someone is using alcohol to self-medicate. There are also drugs available that take away someone’s desire to drink.
Although someone might achieve sobriety independently, most need medical intervention to treat alcohol addiction. This is partly because quitting alcohol suddenly can trigger serious side effects.
For many people, the best treatment for alcohol addiction is a combination of counseling, therapy, and medication.
Alcohol addiction injections supplement other treatment options and provide many benefits. However, like all medications, there are also risks associated with injectable alcohol addiction medications.
It’s always best to work with experienced addiction professionals who can create an individualized treatment plan for each person.
For more help and further information on alcohol addiction treatment options, visit:
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