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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
[The use of psychotropic drugs in alcoholism]
1Unité d'alcoologie, Département de médecine communautaire, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. karin.sutter@hcuge.ch
Abstract:
Comorbid psychiatric disorders occur frequently in patients with alcohol dependence. Psychotropic medications as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotic or hypnotic medications are sometimes useful with alcoholic patients. Their prescription has to be cautious, well-assessed and time-framed. Globally, antidepressants have very little effect on alcohol outcomes meanwhile benzodiazepines are the drug of choice for alcohol withdrawal. But their use has to be very careful because of their addictive potential. Antipsychotic medications have no real indications. Considering the risk of relapse related to insomnia, sedative medications might be useful after detoxification to prevent relapse.
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