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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2020, 22, N4 (pages: 15 - 22)

Medical Adjustment of Alcohol Dependence – a Comparison of Treatment Results with Dihydrocodeine and Acamprosate

Ulmer A., Frietsch B., and Mueller M.

Summary: Acamprosate is admitted for reducing craving and hence for relapse prevention in alcohol dependents for up to 12 months. Publications in 2009 and 2012 indicate that the effect of Dihydrocodeine (DHC) could be superior for this indication, connected with the advantage of realizing a prolonged medical adjustment. Data from treatment in this office, which published the two papers, was analyzed as preparation for a potential comparative clinical trial. 116 patients were treated with DHC, 138 with Acamprosate. The evaluation shows a significantly better retention rate in the DHC patients: 52.6 vs. 29.7% after 24 weeks, and 46.6 vs. 18.1% after 48 weeks. DHC was also significantly superior in days without alcohol, the percentage of completely alcohol-abstinent patients and a number of additional parameters. Source of this data is not a comparative study. But the results can serve as a suitable basis for a clinical trial.