• Naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol)

Naltrexone is used to help you to stay away from alcohol, but it is not a cure for addiction. It may work by blocking the high that makes you crave alcohol. It will not, however, prevent you from experiencing the effects of alcohol. Naltrexone is available as a pill (ReVia) and an injection in the muscle (Vivitrol).

Possible side effects include:

• Stomach cramps
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Adverse reactions at the injection site can occur with Vivitrol

• Disulfiram (Antabuse)

Disulfiram helps you overcome your drinking problem by making you very sick if you drink alcohol. However, it does not cure alcoholism. While you take this medicine, and for at least 12 hours before you begin taking it, you should not drink even the smallest amount of alcohol. You should not use any foods, products, or medicines that contain alcohol, nor should you come into contact with any chemicals that contain alcohol while using this medicine.

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease or schizophrenia, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to disulfiram.

If you use alcohol while taking this medicine, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Dizziness or fainting
• Sweating and flushing
• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Rapid heart beat
• Drowsiness

If you experience mild reactions, you will most likely recover completely. However, reactions may worsen leading to breathing problems, heart problems, seizure, unconciousness, and possibly death. Symptoms will last from 30 minutes to several hours. If you have mild or moderate reactions, see a doctor for help. If you experience severe reactions, go to the emergency room right away.

• Campral

Acamprosate (Campral) reduces your craving for alcohol by inhibiting a chemical in your brain called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Several studies have indicated that it may help you remain abstinent.

Possible side effects include:

• Diarrhea
• Headache

• Diazepam (Valium)
• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Oxazepam (Serax)

Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety drugs that may be used to relieve withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism and reduce the risk of seizures. These drugs produce a sedative effect. Benzodiazepines are usually not used for long periods of time because they can lead to dependence and may cause withdrawal symptoms when discontinued.

Possible side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness

• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a role in anxiety and depression. They are helpful if you have a coexisting psychiatric problem, such as an anxiety disorder or depression. Improvement is usually seen in 4-6 weeks after beginning treatment.

Possible side effects include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Sexual dysfunction. Dysfunction includes decreased arousal, erectile dysfunction, and/or delayed time to orgasm.
• Risk of severe mood and behavior changes, including suicidal thoughts in some patients. Young adults may be at a higher risk for this side effect.

• Buspirone (BuSpar)

This anti-anxiety drug may be used in the treatment of a coexisting anxiety disorder. It takes from 2-4 weeks for improvement to be evident. For this reason, this drug is not useful for treating acute anxiety and insomnia. The primary advantages of buspirone are that it is less sedating than benzodiazepines, and it does not result in physical dependence or tolerance.

Buspirone should be taken with food to increase absorption. Avoid alcohol in excessive amounts when taking this medication due to possible adverse reactions.

Possible side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness