Naltrexone and acamprosate. Using new drugs for alcohol dependence

Two new drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence have recently become available in Australia. Both naltrexone and acamprosate have an 'anticraving' action, but act on different pathways and have different properties.

This article aims to give an outline of the major pharmacological features of the two new drugs and some guidelines on their use for general practitioners.

The past 50 years have seen major advances in almost all medical disciplines. A notable exception has been the alcohol and drug field. The arrival of methadone to Australia in the 1960s was, until lately, the most recent advance in the field. Over the past 18 months, several new drugs have become available for use in alcohol and drug (A&D) clinics. These drugs have also become available to the GP, but their use by this group remains relatively small.