[Pharmacological post-acute treatment of alcohol use disorder: Established strategies and innovative approaches].
Therapeutische Umschau February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.23785/tu.2026.01.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Alcohol use disorder patients |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Alcohol Medication Post-acute treatment Relapse prevention |
| Key findings | Four medications approved in Switzerland for post-acute alcohol dependence treatment have well-established efficacy in reducing relapse risk and alcohol consumption, while off-label and emerging treatments require more evidence. |
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders are common and contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. The treatment of alcohol dependence includes the acute withdrawal phase and the post-acute rehabilitation phase. The primary goal of post-acute treatment is long-term abstinence, although reduction of alcohol consumption is also recognized as an intermediate goal. In addition to psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions, the use of medications is recommended. In Switzerland, four medications (acamprosate, naltrexone, nalmefene, and disulfiram) are approved for post-acute treatment. Their efficacy in reducing relapse risk, drinking days, and overall alcohol consumption is well established. Baclofen, topiramate, and gabapentin are used "off-label", but sufficient evidence of their effectiveness is still lacking. Innovative approaches such as cannabidiol, psilocybin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists show promising therapeutic potential, which needs to be confirmed in further clinical studies. The use of pharmacological interventions can help improve patient outcomes, reduce the need for inpatient treatment, and lower healthcare costs.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |