Hi everybody, there is now an entry for baclofen on the alcoholism page of Wikipedia. This is the first site that comes up when anyone googles alcoholism. Hopefully it will help any one is searching for the first time and help anyone who is challenged about it being a known treatment.
Well, here it is:
Medications
A variety of medications may be prescribed as part of treatment for alcoholism.
Acamprosate (Campral) stabilises the brain chemistry that is altered due to alcohol dependence via antagonising the actions of glutamate, a neurotransmitter which is hyperactive in the post-withdrawal phase.[123] By reducing excessive NMDA activity which occurs at the onset of alcohol withdrawal, acamprosate can reduce or prevent alcohol withdrawal related neurotoxicity.[124] A 2010 review of medical studies found that acamprosate reduces the incidence of relapse amongst alcohol dependent persons.[125]
Baclofen is an agonist for the GABAB receptors[126][127] which suppresses the motivation to consume cocaine, heroin, alcohol, nicotine and d-amphetamine[128] by inhibiting both withdraw symptoms and cravings.[129] The use of baclofen for the treatment of alcoholism came to widespread public attention as a result of the publication of The End of My Addiction by Dr. Olivier Amesen in 2008[130], later re-released as Heal Thyself. Currently, clinical trials of baclofen are underway in several countries in Europe and the United States with a view to having baclofen licenced for the treatment of alcoholism.[131][132]
Benzodiazepines, while useful in the management of acute alcohol withdrawal, if used long-term can cause a worse outcome in alcoholism. Alcoholics on chronic benzodiazepines have a lower rate of achieving abstinence from alcohol than those not taking benzodiazepines. This class of drugs is commonly prescribed to alcoholics for insomnia or anxiety management.[133] Initiating prescriptions of benzodiazepines or sedative-hypnotics in individuals in recovery has a high rate of relapse with one author reporting more than a quarter of people relapsed after being prescribed sedative-hypnotics. Those who are long-term users of benzodiazepines should not be withdrawn rapidly, as severe anxiety and panic may develop, which are known risk factors for relapse into alcohol abuse. Taper regimes of 6?12 months have been found to be the most successful, with reduced intensity of withdrawal.[134][135]
Calcium carbimide (Temposil) works in the same way as disulfiram; it has an advantage in that the occasional adverse effects of disulfiram, hepatotoxicity and drowsiness, do not occur with calcium carbimide.[136][137]
Disulfiram (Antabuse) prevents the elimination of acetaldehyde, a chemical the body produces when breaking down ethanol. Acetaldehyde itself is the cause of many hangover symptoms from alcohol use. The overall effect is severe discomfort when alcohol is ingested: an extremely fast-acting and long-lasting uncomfortable hangover. This discourages an alcoholic from drinking in significant amounts while they take the medicine. A recent nine-year study found that incorporation of supervised disulfiram and the related compound carbimide into a comprehensive treatment program resulted in an abstinence rate of over 50 percent.[136]
Naltrexone is a competitive antagonist for opioid receptors, effectively blocking the effects of endorphins and opiates. Naltrexone is used to decrease cravings for alcohol and encourage abstinence. Alcohol causes the body to release endorphins, which in turn release dopamine and activate the reward pathways; hence when naltrexone is in the body there is a reduction in the pleasurable effects from consuming alcohol.[138] Naltrexone is also used in an alcoholism treatment method called the Sinclair Method, which treats patients through a combination of Naltrexone and continued drinking.[139]
Ondansetron, a 5HT3 antagonist, is effective in the treatment of alcoholism; the combination of ondansetron and naltrexone is superior than either treatment alone.[140]
Well, here it is:
Medications
A variety of medications may be prescribed as part of treatment for alcoholism.
Acamprosate (Campral) stabilises the brain chemistry that is altered due to alcohol dependence via antagonising the actions of glutamate, a neurotransmitter which is hyperactive in the post-withdrawal phase.[123] By reducing excessive NMDA activity which occurs at the onset of alcohol withdrawal, acamprosate can reduce or prevent alcohol withdrawal related neurotoxicity.[124] A 2010 review of medical studies found that acamprosate reduces the incidence of relapse amongst alcohol dependent persons.[125]
Baclofen is an agonist for the GABAB receptors[126][127] which suppresses the motivation to consume cocaine, heroin, alcohol, nicotine and d-amphetamine[128] by inhibiting both withdraw symptoms and cravings.[129] The use of baclofen for the treatment of alcoholism came to widespread public attention as a result of the publication of The End of My Addiction by Dr. Olivier Amesen in 2008[130], later re-released as Heal Thyself. Currently, clinical trials of baclofen are underway in several countries in Europe and the United States with a view to having baclofen licenced for the treatment of alcoholism.[131][132]
Benzodiazepines, while useful in the management of acute alcohol withdrawal, if used long-term can cause a worse outcome in alcoholism. Alcoholics on chronic benzodiazepines have a lower rate of achieving abstinence from alcohol than those not taking benzodiazepines. This class of drugs is commonly prescribed to alcoholics for insomnia or anxiety management.[133] Initiating prescriptions of benzodiazepines or sedative-hypnotics in individuals in recovery has a high rate of relapse with one author reporting more than a quarter of people relapsed after being prescribed sedative-hypnotics. Those who are long-term users of benzodiazepines should not be withdrawn rapidly, as severe anxiety and panic may develop, which are known risk factors for relapse into alcohol abuse. Taper regimes of 6?12 months have been found to be the most successful, with reduced intensity of withdrawal.[134][135]
Calcium carbimide (Temposil) works in the same way as disulfiram; it has an advantage in that the occasional adverse effects of disulfiram, hepatotoxicity and drowsiness, do not occur with calcium carbimide.[136][137]
Disulfiram (Antabuse) prevents the elimination of acetaldehyde, a chemical the body produces when breaking down ethanol. Acetaldehyde itself is the cause of many hangover symptoms from alcohol use. The overall effect is severe discomfort when alcohol is ingested: an extremely fast-acting and long-lasting uncomfortable hangover. This discourages an alcoholic from drinking in significant amounts while they take the medicine. A recent nine-year study found that incorporation of supervised disulfiram and the related compound carbimide into a comprehensive treatment program resulted in an abstinence rate of over 50 percent.[136]
Naltrexone is a competitive antagonist for opioid receptors, effectively blocking the effects of endorphins and opiates. Naltrexone is used to decrease cravings for alcohol and encourage abstinence. Alcohol causes the body to release endorphins, which in turn release dopamine and activate the reward pathways; hence when naltrexone is in the body there is a reduction in the pleasurable effects from consuming alcohol.[138] Naltrexone is also used in an alcoholism treatment method called the Sinclair Method, which treats patients through a combination of Naltrexone and continued drinking.[139]
Ondansetron, a 5HT3 antagonist, is effective in the treatment of alcoholism; the combination of ondansetron and naltrexone is superior than either treatment alone.[140]
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