There are several drugs available to help those struggling with alcohol addiction, yet for a variety of reasons, these drugs are drastically under utilized by medical professionals.

In a recent review of literature pertaining to the effectiveness and use of different medications used to treat alcohol addiction, it was revealed that only one out of 10 people being treated are receiving medication as part of their treatment plan.

When used in congruence with other forms of treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), these medications provide an added benefit that could help promote success in the recovery of individuals in treatment. Some of these medications include acamprosate and naltrexone as well as nalmefene and topiramate. The latter two are commonly used for pain and seizure management respectively, but can also be utilized in helping to stabilize alcohol abuse.

Unlike disulfiram, commonly known as Antabuse, many of the medications available do not rely on aversion therapy to prevent heavy drinking. Disulfiram works by preventing the body from processing alcohol and tends to make those who drink while taking it very ill. These other medications do not have this nasty side effect and instead work with other biological factors to either prevent binges or prevent binges that do occur from reaching extremes.

Experts on addiction point out that there is no data regarding the use of these medications as the sole means of alcohol addiction treatment. All research currently demonstrates an added benefit of medication when used alongside other therapeutic measures.

One of the reasons it is thought that the medications available are so underused has to do with the fact that many medical professionals don’t know about them. People seeking treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction are encouraged to inquire about their options and perhaps prompt their health care team to explore the possibility of medication as an addition to groups like AA or mental health therapies.