researchers say there are several medicationsthat can help alcoholics quit their drinking. thing is, they're rarely prescribed. according to the national institutes of health,about 18 million americans suffer from alcohol use disorders. auds are "medical conditionsthat doctors can diagnose when a patient's drinking causes distress or harm. ... classifiedas either alcohol dependence—perhaps better known as alcoholism—or alcohol abuse." (flickr/ pmorgan, kirti poddar​) researchers led by daniel jonas of the universityof north carolina at chapel hill reviewed and analyzed over 100 clinical trials testingthe two drugs. (via flickr / nvinacco) ​the group presented its results using ameasure called "number needed to treat," or
nnt, which measures the average number ofpatients treated before one benefits. according to the press release, acamprosate's nnt was12, and oral naltrexone's was 20. (via journal of the american medical association) for comparison, widely used cholesterol druglipitor has an nnt of 100, according to this report by businessweek. the study's lead researcher tells bloombergless than 10 percent of patients with auds get medication for them. he says that's due,in part, to doubt surrounding the effectiveness of the drugs. "historically, that's because of the uncertaintyover whether they work. people with alcohol
use disorders have serious problems. theyneed help and they are often not getting help. one piece of the treatment is these medicines."(via bloomberg) the study found that a commonly used drugin alcohol abuse prevention — disulfiram — did not appear to help patients with alcoholuse disorders. according to the u.s. national library ofmedicine, disulfiram affects the way the body breaks down alcohol, causing uncomfortablesymptoms like nausea, headache and chest pain. acamprosate and naltrexone work much differently.acamprosate appears to return the brain to normal functioning after it has been alteredby alcohol abuse, and naltrexone decreases the craving for alcohol.
the group hopes the research will help thosesuffering from auds gain access to helpful medications. "by identifying 4 effective medicationsfor aud ... the authors highlight treatment options for a common medical condition forwhich patient-centered care is not currently the norm." (via medical daily)
nnt, which measures the average number ofpatients treated before one benefits. according to the press release, acamprosate's nnt was12, and oral naltrexone's was 20. (via journal of the american medical association) for comparison, widely used cholesterol druglipitor has an nnt of 100, according to this report by businessweek. the study's lead researcher tells bloombergless than 10 percent of patients with auds get medication for them. he says that's due,in part, to doubt surrounding the effectiveness of the drugs. "historically, that's because of the uncertaintyover whether they work. people with alcohol
use disorders have serious problems. theyneed help and they are often not getting help. one piece of the treatment is these medicines."(via bloomberg) the study found that a commonly used drugin alcohol abuse prevention — disulfiram — did not appear to help patients with alcoholuse disorders. according to the u.s. national library ofmedicine, disulfiram affects the way the body breaks down alcohol, causing uncomfortablesymptoms like nausea, headache and chest pain. acamprosate and naltrexone work much differently.acamprosate appears to return the brain to normal functioning after it has been alteredby alcohol abuse, and naltrexone decreases the craving for alcohol.
the group hopes the research will help thosesuffering from auds gain access to helpful medications. "by identifying 4 effective medicationsfor aud ... the authors highlight treatment options for a common medical condition forwhich patient-centered care is not currently the norm." (via medical daily)
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