What role do medications for alcohol dependence play?
There are now medications currently approved for treating alcohol dependence. They have been shown to help patients reduce drinking, avoid relapse to heavy drinking, achieve and maintain abstinence, or gain a combination of these effects. As is true in treating any chronic illness, addressing patient adherence issues throughout the treatment will maximize the effectiveness of these medications.1 All of the currently approved medications have been shown to be effective adjuncts to the treatment of alcohol dependence. Thus, consider medications when you and your healthcare provider are evaluating which treatments are appropriate for you. Patients who have previously failed to respond to psychosocial approaches alone are particularly strong candidates.1 Which medication to use will depend on clinical judgment and patient preference. Each has a different mechanism of action. Some patients may respond better to one type of medication than another.1 Medication alone is not considered a reaso
