There are no medications that will prevent a relapse. Medication cannot replace your determination to remain in recovery. There are however a couple of medications that may be of help to you. One such medication is called ReVia (generic name is naltrexone).

The FDA has approved Revia for use by people who are trying to stay away from alcohol. Revia can help to reduce your cravings and thereby reduce future drinking. Revia's cannot stop you from drinking and this should be kept in mind if you decide to try it. If you are a narcotics user you should not take Revia if you have used narcotics in the last 3 weeks-otherwise you will have a severe reaction. Revia is also used to help people addicted to opiates such as heroin. It works by totally blocking the euphoric effects of opiates. If you use heroin while taking Revia you will not get high.

Antabuse (generic name is disulfiram) has been used to discourage people from consuming alcohol. If a person taking Antabuse drinks alcohol they will get very sick. Unfortunately, any amount of alcohol-even in a mouthwash-could trigger a reaction. Additionally, Antabuse can cause drowsiness and liver complications in some people. Finally, Antabuse is only effective if you remember (or want) to take it daily. It is not a substitute for a genuine commitment to recovery.

Methadone and LAAM are used for people who cannot stay free of heroin use. Methadone must be taken daily while LAAM can be taken several times per week. Neither can be abruptly discontinued without going through a withdrawal reaction. Methadone and LAAM substitute for heroin and block the brain receptor sites that heroin uses. A person on Methadone must take it for the rest of their lives or until they are ready to face life without it. It is an effective but partial treatment for heroin addiction.
There are no known medications that are of help to people who are addicted to cocaine, crack or marijuana.

A medication in use in Europe and in clinical trials in the United States that may substitute for alcohol in a similar way that methadone substitutes for heroin is acamprostate (brand name will be Campral). It will be at least two years before it is approved for use in the US.

For people who suffer from depression and anxiety unrelated to their substance abuse there are a variety of antidepressant medications such as Paxil, Prosac, Effexor, and Celexa that can be of help. Anti-anxiety medications such as Buspar and Klonapin can help to reduce anxiety and agitation. People who are addiction prone, however, should be cautious about taking anti-anxiety medications such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan as they are potentially addictive. Klonapin can also be addictive. Buspar is non-addictive but less effective.