03.10.14
NICE recommends pill to cut alcohol dependence
Hundreds of thousands of people who regularly drink high amounts of alcohol could soon be given a drug to help cut their intake.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended, in final draft guidance, that nalmefene should be made available to NHS patients in England and Wales.
Nalmefene, which is also called Selincro, is taken as a tablet once a day and reduces the urge to drink alcohol. Costing just over £3 a tablet, it is already prescribed in Scotland.
It has been suggested that this could help approximately 600,000 people who consume more than 7.5 units per day (three pints of beer or cider at 5%) for men and more than five units per day (half a bottle of wine) for women.
The drug is also licensed for use alongside psychosocial support to help people reduce their alcohol consumption and give them the encouragement they need to continue with their treatment.
Professor Carole Longson, NICE health technology evaluation centre director, said: “Alcohol dependence is a serious issue for many people.
“Those who could be prescribed nalmefene have already taken the first big steps by visiting their doctor, engaging with support services and taking part in therapy programmes. We are pleased to be able to recommend the use of namelfene to support people further in their efforts to fight alcohol dependence.”
Final guidance on the use of nalmefene is expected to be published in November 2014. Until this is published, NICE said that decisions should be made locally on the funding of the treatment.
Jackie Ballard, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “The introduction of nalmefene will be a useful addition to the clinician’s toolbox, when used in conjunction with other treatment methods to tackle the harmful consequences of alcohol misuse.”
(Image: c. David Jones/PA Wire)
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