Controlling Alcohol Cravings With Medication

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFDA-ApprovedOther MedicationsAlternatives

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

FDA-Approved

Other Medications

Alternatives

People who have become alcohol-dependent often experience cravings when trying to stop drinking, making it harder to quit.The good news, however, is that there are medications that may help manage the urge for alcohol, which can aid in the recovery fromalcohol use disorder (AUD).

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

FDA-Approved Alcohol Craving Medications

The FDA has approved threemedications for the treatment of AUD,two of which may help manage alcohol cravings: naltrexone and acamprosate.

Vivitrol (Naltrexone)

Naltrexone blocks certain receptors in the brain (opioid receptors), which reduces the pleasure a person experiences from drinking alcohol. This can help eventually reduce alcohol cravings.

Acamprosate

Acamprosate does not help someone quit drinking. Instead, it is prescribed for those who have already stopped drinking alcohol.Because the side effects are typically mild and well-tolerated, it is usually prescribed for up to 12 months followingalcohol abstinence.

The Third FDA-Approved Medication

Other Medications That May Reduce Alcohol Cravings

In addition to FDA-approved medications, other drugs may have positive effects on alcohol cravings. Some are prescribed off-label to treat AUD, some are being studied for this use, and others have been approved to treat alcohol dependence outside of the United States. They include:

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not recommend using antidepressants, which includes SSRIs, in the treatment of AUD unless there is another disorder present that they can help treat.

Preventing Alcohol Relapse

Alternatives to Alcohol Craving Medications

Medications aren’t the only options for reducing alcohol cravings. The following approaches can also be used, with or without medication.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Treat Alcoholism and Drug Addiction?

Support Groups

Participating in a mutual-help group likeAlcoholics Anonymous(A.A.) or another12-step programcan offer even more support. These types of groups provide access to information that can be helpful for coping with alcohol cravings.

Research has found fewer self-reported cravings in A.A. members who had a “spiritual awakening”and those who prayed after viewing craving-inducing images.However, a 2017 review suggests that A.A.’s benefits primarily come from therapeutic factors that mirror those found in other treatments—such as those that are social, cognitive, and affective in nature.

How to Overcome an Addiction

21 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Stohs ME, Schneekloth TD, Geske JR, Biernacka JM, Karpyak VM.Alcohol craving predicts relapse after residential addiction treatment.Alcoh Alcoholism. 2019;54(2):167-172. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agy093

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Medications development program.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.Acamprosate calcium tablets.

Salib A-MN, Ho AL, Sussman ES, Pendharkar AV, Halpern CH.Neuromodulatory treatments for alcohol use disorder: A review.Brain Sciences. 2018;8(6):95. doi:10.3390/brainsci8060095

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Medications, counseling, and related conditions: Medications for substance use disorders.

Plosker GL.Acamprosate: A review of its use in alcohol dependence.Drugs. 2015;75(11):1255-68. doi:10.1007/s40265-015-0423-9

Guglielmo R, Martinotti G, Quatrale M, et al.Topiramate in alcohol use disorders: Review and update.CNS Drugs. 2015;29(5):383-95. doi:10.1007/s40263-015-0244-0

Rutkofsky IH, Fisher KA, Alvarez Villalba CL, Neuhut S.Gabapentin for post-hospitalization alcohol relapse prevention; should gabapentin be considered for FDA approval in the treatment of alcohol use disorder?: A case presentation and literature review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8931. doi:10.7759/cureus.8931

David Marin MC, Pozzolo Pedro MO, Perrotte G, et al.Pharmacological treatment of alcohol cravings.Brain Sci. 2023;13(8):1206. doi:10.3390/brainsci13081206

Palpacuer C, Laviolle B, Boussageon R, Reymann JM, Bellissant E, Naudet F.Risks and benefits of nalmefene in the treatment of adult alcohol dependence: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished double-blind randomized controlled trials.PLOSMed. 2015;12(12):e1001924. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001924

Shen WW.Anticraving therapy for alcohol use disorder: A clinical review.Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2018;38(3):105-116. doi:10.1002/npr2.12028

Zorick T, Okita K, Mandelkern MA, London ED, Brody AL.Effects of citalopram on cue-induced alcohol craving and thalamic d2/3 dopamine receptor availability.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2019;22(4):286-291. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyz010

American Psychiatric Association.Practice Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.

Department of Health and Human Services.Medication for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A brief guide.

Carroll KM, Kiluk BD.Cognitive behavioral interventions for alcohol and drug use disorders: Through the stage model and back again.Psychol Addict Behav. 2017;31(8):847-861. doi:10.1037/adb0000311

Liu Y, Kornfield R, Shaw BR, Shah DV, McTavish F, Gustafson DH.When support is needed: Social support solicitation and provision in an online alcohol use disorder forum.Dig Health. 2017;3. doi:10.1177/2055207617704274

Dermatis H, Galanter M.The role of twelve-step-related spirituality in addiction recovery.J Relig Health. 2016;55(2):510-521. doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0019-4

Galanter M, Josipovic Z, Dermatis H, Weber J, Millard MA.An initial fMRI study on neural correlates of prayer in members of Alcoholics Anonymous.The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2017;43(1):44-54. doi:10.3109/00952990.2016.1141912

Kelly JF.Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research.Addiction. 2017;112(6):929-936. doi:10.1111/add.13590

Donovan DM, Anton RF, Miller WR, et al.Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence (The combine study): examination of posttreatment drinking outcomes.J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2008;69(1):5-13. doi:10.15288/jsad.2008.69.5UpToDate.Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder.

UpToDate.Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?

FDA-Approved Alcohol Craving Medications#

Vivitrol (Naltrexone)#

Acamprosate#

The Third FDA-Approved Medication#

Other Medications That May Reduce Alcohol Cravings#

Alternatives to Alcohol Craving Medications#

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)#

Support Groups#