Identify and briefly describe three types of medications used to treat alcoholism.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A large number of well-controlled studies support the use of naltrexone as an aid in preventing relapse among people with alcohol dependence. As an opioid receptor antagonist, it blocks the effects of the body's production of alcohol-induced opioids, perhaps through involving dopamine. Disulfiram is a medication that operates by the principles of aversion therapy. An individual taking disulfiram who consumes alcohol within a two-week period will experience a variety of unpleasant physical reactions, including flushing, palpitations, increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, sweating, and dizziness. Disulfiram works primarily by inhibiting the action of an enzyme that normally breaks down acetaldehyde, a toxic product involved in ethanol metabolism. The third medication shown to be effective in treating alcohol abuse is acamprosate, an amino acid derivative. Acamprosate reduces the risk of relapse by reducing the individual's urge to drink and thereby reducing the drive to use alcohol as a way of reducing anxiety and other negative psychological states. Acamprosate appears to work by modulating glutamate receptors and other reactions within the cell.