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Medication
Acamprosate (Campral®)
Acamprosate is a drug which reduces cravings for alcohol after detoxification. It works on neurotransmitters in your brain that are involved with addiction and cravings, and if you relapse it's safe to take with alcohol - unlike Antabuse. It doesn't affect your state of consciousness (i.e. it doesn't make you drowsy, or make you feel different). It should always be combined with some psychological or social treatments - like relapse prevention counselling.
You have to take acamprosate three times a day - which, even if it has no other effect, I think helps you to think about why you take it, and to keep your eye on the ball.
Studies have shown that it increases your chance of success considerably. In practice, I've noticed that some people say it works really really well for them; others don't notice any difference. It might be worth trying to see if it makes things easier for you.
Before you're prescribed it, you should have a comprehensive medical assessment including baseline urea, electrolytes and liver function tests.
Disulfiram (Antabuse®)
Disulfiram is a drug which makes you ill if you drink alcohol. It prevents alcohol being properly metabolised, so that you get an unpleasant reaction if you drink. Indeed, you need to avoid anything with alcohol when taking it - like mouthwash, perfume or aftershave. Make no mistake, you can be very ill indeed if you drink on top of Antabuse.
So don't think about using it unless you're clear about the risks involved. The best thing about this drug is that it can help to fix your motivation at it's highest point. If you take it every morning, you're making a real commitment and keeping your motivation for the rest of the day. Like acamprosate, it should always be combined with some psychological or social treatments Some people take it in front of their partner. Other people just take it when they know they'll be at extra risk - when going to a wedding or a party, for example.
People also report that when they know they haven't got the choice of drinking, then it makes their cravings reduce dramatically.
You should always have some form of psychological help as well as taking disulfiram.
And it's more likely to work if you have someone making sure that you take it.
Before you're prescribed it, you should have a comprehensive medical assessment including baseline urea, electrolytes and liver function tests.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is a drug that blocks your body's opiate receptors. The theory is that it therefore inhibits your sense of 'reward' when you drink. The most current research, at the time of writing, suggests that it's most useful in getting heavy drinkers to cut down their drinking. I'd suggest, then, that it has no place in our plans for now.
Further reading (external sites)
See also: Nalmefene