From the Guidelines
To quit drinking alcohol, it is essential to set a clear goal and create a plan that includes identifying triggers, removing alcohol from your home, and finding alternative activities to replace drinking, as well as considering medications like naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram under the guidance of a healthcare provider, as recommended by the most recent study 1.
Key Steps to Quit Drinking Alcohol
- Set a clear goal to either reduce or completely stop alcohol consumption
- Identify triggers and remove alcohol from your home
- Find alternative activities to replace drinking
- Tell friends and family about your decision to gain support
- Consider joining support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or seeking professional help from a doctor or therapist
Medications to Help Quit Drinking
- Naltrexone (50mg daily)
- Acamprosate (666mg three times daily)
- Disulfiram (250-500mg daily), but these should be prescribed by a healthcare provider
Important Considerations
- For heavy drinkers, quitting suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms, so medical supervision may be necessary, as highlighted in the study 1
- Track your progress, celebrate milestones, and develop healthy coping mechanisms like exercise, meditation, or new hobbies
- Be prepared for setbacks and remember that recovery is a process
- Quitting alcohol improves physical health by reducing liver damage and cardiovascular risks, while also enhancing mental health, sleep quality, and relationships, as noted in the study 1
Additional Recommendations
- Consider the 5 A's behavioral counseling framework: assess alcohol consumption, advise patients to reduce alcohol consumption, agree on individual goals, assist patients with acquiring motivations and self-help skills, and arrange follow-up support, as recommended in the study 1
- Use screening tools like the AUDIT or CAGE to detect alcohol-related problems, as suggested in the study 1
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Quitting Drinking Alcohol
To quit drinking alcohol, several strategies can be employed, including medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Medications such as disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of alcohol use disorder 2.
- The use of anticonvulsants, such as baclofen, has also been explored, although it is not currently FDA-approved for this indication 2.
- Combining medical treatment with CBT has been shown to be effective in reducing drinking and improving quality of life 3, 4.
- A meta-analysis found that acamprosate and naltrexone are most helpful when used in specific contexts, such as requiring abstinence before treatment or detoxification before medication administration 5.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that oral naltrexone and acamprosate are effective in reducing alcohol consumption and preventing return to heavy drinking, with numbers needed to treat of 11 and 18, respectively 6.
Treatment Approaches
Different treatment approaches may be more effective for different individuals.
- Naltrexone has been found to be more efficacious in reducing heavy drinking and craving, while acamprosate is more efficacious in promoting abstinence 5.
- Injectable naltrexone has been associated with fewer drinking days over a 30-day treatment period 6.
- CBT, when combined with medication, can help reduce symptoms of depression and improve quality of life 3, 4.
Adverse Effects
Medications used to treat alcohol use disorder can have adverse effects.