Impact of Perception on Combining Alcohol with Medications

A number of us have at one time or another been prescribed a medication that warned that it should not be taken with alcohol. While combining the two can have severe health consequences, not all patients follow these instructions. To determine just how powerful such warnings are, a clinical trial was conducted.

Science Daily presented the results of this trial, which included three different examination groups of alcohol-dependent patients. One group received naltrexone, another acomprosate and the third group received a placebo.

There were no differences in the outcomes between treatment groups, there was a marked difference in alcohol consumption in those who believed they had been taking active medication. These individuals also reported less alcohol dependence and cravings. The findings support the theory that irrespective of actual treatment, perceived medication allocation predicted health outcomes.

A second trial of naltrexone and acamprosate for alcohol dependence involved 169 alcohol-dependent patients who received any of these medications or a placebo for 12 weeks. These individuals were assessed on various indices of alcohol dependence and asked whether thy believed they had received active medication or a placebo.

Again, there were no differences in the outcomes between the treatment groups, although perception again controlled the number of drinks consumed by those who believed they were taking active medication.

These results highlight the differences between treatment administration in clinical trials and standard medical practice. This difference can decrease the validity of the trials, but it can also highlight potential areas of change within the medical community that can help to improve overall outcomes for patients.