CLINICAL-TRIALS WITH ANTI-CRAVING DRUGS

Based on various studies on the neurobiological basis of craving and a lcohol relapse in recent years a number of pharmacotherapeutic trials on relapse prevention in alcoholism have been performed. While studies with serotonergic and dopaminergic substances have shown disappointin g results glutamate and opiate antagonists (naltrexone and acamprosate ) have been found to reduce relapse rates in detoxified alcoholic. in this review relevant clinical studies concerning efficacy of both drug s are discussed.