With over 20 years of experience in psychiatry, Dr. Sridhar Yaratha is a psychiatrist at Gateway Homes in Chesterfield, Virginia. Dr. Sridhar Yaratha deals with addiction psychology and works with patients who have mental illness and addiction problems. One of the most widespread addictions in America, alcohol use disorder has a variety of treatment measures, including medications.
Medications are only used for alcoholism when certain conditions are met by the patient. Typically, counseling or psychotherapy is tried first, and if there is little response to that, medications may be used. Additionally, some medications can only be used when the patient is already abstinent from alcohol and is not abusing certain other drugs, and reactions from the medications and drugs or alcohol may occur.
There are three main FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder: Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and acamprosate. Disulfiram inhibits the metabolism of alcohol and psychologically deters alcohol use. The drawbacks of it are that patients are less likely to comply with taking it, and it has a risk of causing hepatotoxicity.
Naltrexone works as an opioid receptor antagonist and makes alcohol feel less rewarding. It cannot be given to patients who use opioids, as it can induce acute opioid withdrawal. Finally, acamprosate restores homeostasis in glutamatergic neurotransmission, which is dysregulated with heavy drinking. It has little safety risk and is safe for patients with hepatic impairment.
Medications are only used for alcoholism when certain conditions are met by the patient. Typically, counseling or psychotherapy is tried first, and if there is little response to that, medications may be used. Additionally, some medications can only be used when the patient is already abstinent from alcohol and is not abusing certain other drugs, and reactions from the medications and drugs or alcohol may occur.
There are three main FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder: Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and acamprosate. Disulfiram inhibits the metabolism of alcohol and psychologically deters alcohol use. The drawbacks of it are that patients are less likely to comply with taking it, and it has a risk of causing hepatotoxicity.
Naltrexone works as an opioid receptor antagonist and makes alcohol feel less rewarding. It cannot be given to patients who use opioids, as it can induce acute opioid withdrawal. Finally, acamprosate restores homeostasis in glutamatergic neurotransmission, which is dysregulated with heavy drinking. It has little safety risk and is safe for patients with hepatic impairment.
