Author: Drummond, Colin

Source: Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, Volume 2, Number 1, January 2002 , pp. 119-125(7)

Publisher: Expert Reviews

Abstract:

Excessive drinking is common in Western societies and leads to a wide range of physical, psychological and social problems. These problems are costly to society. The 1-year prevalence of dependence is 4–5% and lifetime prevalence 13–16%. A wide range of pharmacological approaches to attenuate drinking or promote abstinence has been studied. Clinical research in this area has been affected by poor methodological quality, with some important exceptions and there is a need for agreed standards of research conduct. Nevertheless, several pharmacological agents have emerged as having potential. Acamprosate (a synthetic GABA analog) and naltrexone (an opioid anatagonist) have some evidence of efficacy in excessive drinking and alcohol dependence. However, precise mechanisms of effect and identification of drinkers most likely to benefit have still to be established.

Keywords: acamprosate; alcohol-attenuating agents; alcohol dependence; Antabuse; disulfiram; excessive drinking; fluoxetine; methodological issues; naltrexone; nalmefene; opioid antagonists; pharmacotherapy; psychiatric comorbidity

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/14737175.2.1.119

Publication date: 2002-01-01

More about this publication?

• Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics provides expert commentary on the use of drugs and medicines in clinical neurology and neuropsychiatry. Coverage includes disease management, new medicines and drugs in neurology, therapeutic indications, diagnostics, medical treatment guidelines and neurological diseases such as stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
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