Medicines to curb addictions
Susan Simpson, Staff Writer
Published: July 27, 2008
New medications that ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings are helping addicts stop drinking, smoking and abusing drugs.
Campral is a fairly new drug that has shown promise in helping alcoholics, said Dr. Robert Nisbet, a University of Oklahoma professor and expert on chemical dependency.
Campral helps reduce the physical and emotional discomfort, including anxiety and irritability, that can lead alcoholics in abstinence to relapse.
“Campral seems to depress this reaction,” he said. “They are less driven to drink. It suppresses their urge.”
Nisbet said medical treatments for addiction should be combined with counseling and 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Other drug treatments for alcoholism can suppress the “buzz” of drinking, or make a person very ill if they ingest alcohol.
Tobacco
Chantix is the newest prescription drug for smoking cessation, although there have been reports it causes behavioral changes in some people, including agitation and suicidal thoughts.
The drug, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May 2006, works by blocking the effects of nicotine to the brain.
Nicotine gum, lozenges and patches are called nicotine replacement therapy because they take the place of nicotine from cigarettes. They can help with withdrawal and lessen the urge to smoke.
Oklahoma State University student Charles Asbery said he didn’t like the taste of nicotine gum and the patch gave him rashes. He quit smoking after taking Chantix, which he said gave him vivid dreams but no other side effects.
Opiods
Buprenorphine, marketed as Subutex or Suboxone if combined with another drug, is used to treat addiction to opiates like heroin and morphine.
The medications suppress withdrawal symptoms and relieve craving for the drug. This helps patients to disengage from drug-seeking and related criminal behavior and be more receptive to behavioral treatments.
Unike methadone, which must be administered in special drug treatment clinics, buprenorphine can be prescribed in physicians offices.
Nisbet said most insurance companies cover prescription drugs that treat addiction.
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