But at best, says the study in the journal Addiction, the pills had a low- or medium-level effect on the amount people were drinking. The researchers looked at the trials carried out on nalmefene, naltrexone, acamprosate, baclofen and topimarate against placebos. The first to be licensed in Europe was nalmefene, an opioid antagonist that acts on the urge to consume alcohol. Yet a Dutch study last year said it may work no better than counselling and there have been reports of deaths. A subsequent study published by France’s medicines safety agency drew attention to the risk.

Source: The Guardian September 21, 2017 03:56 UTC