Drinking alcohol regularly and for prolonged periods, triggering mechanisms   of reversion neuroadaptive slow and difficult to contribute to strengthening consumption and biochemical bases of which, intensively studied in recent years, new approaches are brightening in the pathophysiology and treatment of the problem.

The acute and chronic effects of ethanol are related to various central neurotransmitter systems: serotonin, opioid, dopamine and, especially, GABAergic and glutamatergic. The complex constellation of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved has broadened the view from which to approach the study of alcohol dependence and identify new targets for treatment.

For years, pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence has focused on preventing positive reinforcement (reward) by aversive agents such as disulfiram or calcium cyanamide.

Benzodiazepines and other sedatives have been used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and allow alcohol detoxification, but side effects limit their prolonged administration which requires the treatment of addiction.

Given the influence of alcohol on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, and the role assigned to this transmitter in the positive reinforcement of drugs of abuse, we investigate the effects of agonists and antagonists that were already using for other indications neurological. Thus, tiapride, D2 antagonist, anxiolytic and atypical neuroleptic that reduces alcohol withdrawal symptoms, has been approved for the treatment of both chronic and acute alcoholism, while bromocriptine is still under study.

Overall, the different treatment of alcohol dependence are being supported by the combination of drug regimens, psychosocial rehabilitation programs.

In the treatment process, it is essential to clearly formulate immediate short-term objectives, which will constitute the initiation of treatment (detoxification), adapted to the possibilities of each case, with special attention to evaluate your environment and choosing the utmost care to use drugs for detoxification.