Topiramate, a drug already approved for the treatment of epilepsy, has proven effective at reducing alcohol cravings in recovering alcoholics.

Early testing results on varenicline's ability to decrease alcohol consumption are proving very exciting to addictions professionals. The drug, already approved safe for human use, has only been tested on animals for use as an alcohol cessation medication, but preliminary results indicate that varenicline cuts alcohol consumption in half, and that the effects of the drug last even after the patient stops taking it. It works well for rats anyways, for humans we'll have to wait and see!