Clinical trials with anti-craving drugs

Based on various studies on the neurobiological basis of craving and alcohol 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 disappointing 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 drugs are discussed.