Medication to Help You Drink Less: What’s Actually Available, and How a Provider Decides With You
Yes, there are FDA-approved medications that can help people with alcohol use disorder drink less or stop drinking. Alcohol use disorder means drinking has become hard to stop or control, even when it’s causing problems with your health, work, or relationships.1 These medications help in different ways. They can ease cravings, ease discomfort some people feel after they stop drinking, or make drinking unpleasant. You may also see them called Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT).
Using medication as part of your treatment is something you decide with a provider. At Eleanor Health, provider-managed medication support for alcohol use disorder is one part of whole-person care, alongside therapy and peer support.
Medication is an effective and important aid in the treatment of people with this condition.1 Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common medical condition that can happen to anyone, and it isn’t a choice or a character flaw.1 Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe.
Some people are surprised to learn there are medications approved to treat alcohol use disorder.1 These medications can be an effective and important aid in treatment.1
Naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are three FDA-approved medications used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). These medications are not addictive and can help people manage AUD as a long-term health condition, much like medications used to manage asthma or diabetes.1,2
If you’ve tried to cut back on your own and found it harder than you expected, medication is one more kind of support you can ask about.
What kinds of medication exist, and what they’re for
Three medications (naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram) are FDA-approved to help people stop or reduce their drinking.1,3 ‘FDA-approved’ means these medications were studied for treating alcohol use disorder, then approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for that use.
Each medication helps in a different way. Which one fits you, if any, is something you and a provider decide together.1
A large review of clinical trials supports naltrexone and acamprosate as first-line medications for alcohol use disorder when used alongside counseling or other support. First-line means they’re among the first options a provider may consider.3 In clinical studies, acamprosate helped people who had already stopped drinking stay alcohol-free for longer.5
A health care provider prescribes these medications, often as part of a treatment plan that includes counseling and other support.1,2 Knowing what each one is for can help you ask a provider informed questions about your treatment options. You can also read more about how naltrexone and disulfiram differ.
Choosing a medication
A provider looks at your drinking pattern, your overall health, any other medications you take, and your goals. With that information, they can help you build a treatment plan. Together, you can decide whether medication makes sense for you and, if it does, which one. No single treatment works for everyone, so a medication that helps one person may not be a good fit for someone else.1,2
Your conversation with a provider starts with what’s been going on and what you’d like to change. You can ask questions, share concerns, and have a say in treatment decisions. If you’d like to start that conversation, you can begin with an online assessment.
If your goal is cutting back, not quitting entirely
Maybe you are trying to drink less. You can discuss a goal of cutting back with a provider. Eleanor’s care follows a harm reduction approach, which means supporting any step that lowers the harm drinking is causing. Cutting back is one of those steps. Research shows that most people who have problems with alcohol are able to reduce their drinking or quit entirely, often over time.1
Medication may be part of the plan. Approved medications for AUD can help people reduce or stop their drinking.1 In clinical studies, naltrexone modestly lowered the chance of heavy drinking. It also slightly reduced the number of days people drank.6
For some people, stopping completely may be the only path to lasting recovery. This is a personal decision that depends on their health and how severe their drinking has become.1 You can talk with a provider about which goal makes sense for you. Counseling can help you build the skills to stop or reduce drinking.1
What this looks like with Eleanor
At Eleanor Health, medication support for alcohol use disorder is one part of care. Your care plan can also include therapy and peer support from our Community Recovery Partners, who draw on their own lived experience with recovery to offer encouragement, practical guidance, and support throughout your treatment journey.
Care starts with an assessment with a member of your care team. At Eleanor Health, you can meet with your team through video or phone visits from home, including visits to discuss medication options. We’ll start by listening to what’s been going on and what you’d like to change, then build a plan with you. Reaching out doesn’t commit you to medication or to any one type of treatment. A conversation is the first step.
Provider-managed medication support for alcohol use disorder is part of that plan when and if it makes sense for you. Medication is used alongside counseling and support.3,7 Learn more about our treatment for alcohol use disorder, including therapy and peer support.
If stopping drinking is your goal, a return to drinking doesn’t mean losing your care team. Setbacks can happen in recovery and aren’t a failure.1 Many people quit or cut back over time, learning from setbacks and continuing their recovery.1 We don’t discharge members for a return to use; these moments are treated as part of many people’s recovery, not a reason to stop treatment.
We accept most insurance. Availability varies by location.
We’re here to help
We know reaching out can be hard. Call today to speak with one of our recovery specialists. We will listen, learn, and offer support – without judgment. We welcome every person in need of support. Call us today at (877) 759-5017 to learn more about our addiction treatment services. We believe in you and your ability to overcome addiction.
McPheeters M, O’Connor EA, Riley S, et al. Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2023;330(17):1653-1665. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.19761
Is there a medication that can help me drink less?
Yes. Three FDA-approved medications—naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram—can help people stop or reduce their drinking.1 Each one helps in a different way, and a provider can help you decide whether one fits your health needs and goals. All of them are nonaddictive.1
Who decides which medication, if any, is right for me?
You and a provider decide together. Your provider considers your overall health, any other medications you take, and what you want to change. You have a say in the choice. Since no single treatment works for everyone, this decision is made with a provider who understands your health history.1
Do I have to want to quit completely, or can this help me cut back?
You can bring either goal to a provider. The approved medications are meant to help people stop or reduce their drinking.1 Depending on your health and your drinking patterns, a provider may talk with you about stopping completely.1
Does medication replace therapy?
No. At Eleanor Health, medication is one part of a treatment plan. Research supports using it alongside counseling or other support.3 At Eleanor Health, medication support is combined with therapy and support from Community Recovery Partners (CRPs), team members who draw on their own lived experience with recovery to offer encouragement and practical guidance.
Can Eleanor help me get medication for drinking?
Eleanor Health prescribes medications for alcohol use disorder. It starts with an assessment, where you and a provider talk through whether medication makes sense for you. You don’t need to know which medication you want before you reach out. Eleanor Health accepts most insurance. Availability varies by location.
Do I have to stop drinking before I can start medication?
Not always. Whether you need to stop drinking before starting medication for alcohol use disorder depends on the medication and your individual health needs. Your medical team will assess your situation and help you determine the safest way to begin treatment.
What can you do if you’re worried about someone else’s drinking?
If you’re reading this for someone you care about, the next step is to encourage them to talk with a provider when they are ready to seek care. Caring for someone whose drinking worries you can be stressful. It’s important to find ways to take care of yourself, too.1Learn more about support available if you’re worried about someone else’s drinking.
