Pharmacological treatments of alcohol dependence

Abstract EN

Objective : to review current pharmacological treatments for alcohol dependence.

Method : A comprehensive search from a range of electronic databases was conducted to identify controlled trials, systematic reviews, and guidelines that evaluated the use of pharmacological interventions in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

Result : Several compounds were identified and evaluated in the reviews that are well established in the treatment of alcohol dependence including: benzodiazepines, disulfiram, thiamine, acamprosate and naltrexone.

Less routinely used compounds such as mood stabilizers, serotoninergic agents and other compounds with growing evidence of efficacy in the alcohol dependence have also been reviewed.

Conclusion : There are well established pharmacological treatments for alcohol dependence in the acute withdrawal phase.

However for relapse prevention, a few compounds have been developed with growing evidence of efficacy.

Further research is needed to evaluate combination strategies of this compound.