The control of abstinence in the treatment of alcohol dependence: the use of acamprosate in relapse prevention

Abstract

Treatment with acamprosate is a valid tool to complement psychotherapy as it does not cause addiction, abuse or withdrawal of its suspension and does not interfere with other medications that patients often alcoholics must take. To evaluate the effectiveness, our study evaluated the effects of Acamprosate compared to γ-hydroxybutyrate in clinical-physiological and social health in a way indicator of a possible therapeutic success in terms of abstinence from alcohol and social reintegration. A total of 36 patients were observed, of which 5, 4 men and 1 woman at the Drug Addiction Service (Servizio Tossicodipendenze, Ser.T) Alcamo, and 31, 21 men and 10 women at the Ser.T of Palermo. As regards the craving, during the period of treatment with acamprosate, there has been a change, in the sense of reduction, of craving for alcohol: if before therapy was in 68% of cases, medium-high, it becomes after 3-4 months of therapy in low-nil in 89% of patients observed. It has been recorded that, after 3-4 months after receiving acamprosate, the clinical picture of the patient is greatly improved by referring to biological markers. In particular, the strong point seems to be the ability for the user to experience a new sense of normalcy and to remove the desire for significant periods of alcohol.

Keywords

• alcoholism, acamprosate, relapse