How Many Cravings? Pharmacological Aspects of Craving Treatment in Alcohol Addiction: A Review

Vol. 51, No. 2, 2005

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 172 KB)

Review

How Many Cravings? Pharmacological Aspects of Craving Treatment in Alcohol Addiction: A Review
Giovanni Addolorato, Ludovico Abenavoli, Lorenzo Leggio, Giovanni Gasbarrini, on behalf of the Alcoholism Treatment Study Group

Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuropsychobiology 2005;51:59-66 (DOI: 10.1159/000084161)

Key Words

Craving
Alcohol addiction
Drug therapy

Abstract

In the last decade, craving has increasingly been considered an important target for the treatment of patients with alcohol problems, and several drugs able to interfere with the neurotransmitters involved in craving mechanisms have been experimented. However, different subtypes of patients could have different mechanisms at the basis of alcohol craving. In this review, the main drugs currently used in the treatment of patients with alcohol problems are described. A hypothesis of pharmacological treatment of the different types of craving is also discussed.

Author Contacts

Giovanni Addolorato
Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University
Gemelli Hospital, Largo A. Gemelli 8
IT-00168 Rome (Italy)
Tel. +39 06 30154334, Fax +39 06 35502775, E-Mail g.addolorato@rm.unicatt.it

Article Information

Published online: February 28, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 83

Medline Abstract (ID 15741745)

Download Citation

Cited In

This journal is part of the first subject package of the Karger

Journal Archive Collection

Information on packages (PDF)
Free sample issues

For non-native English speakers and international authors who would like assistance with their writing before submission, we suggest American Journal Experts for their scientific editing service.