Nice's recommendation to treat alcohol dependence with nalmefene could offer a "middle ground" by helping heavy drinkers cut back, a clinical pharmacist has said.

The opioid receptor antagonist, which reduces alcohol cravings, could have health benefits even if patients did not give up completely, said Steve Bazire, consultant pharmacist at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Nice recommended that almost 600,000 people dependent on alcohol in England and Wales should have access to the drug, along with continuous psychosocial support, in draft guidance published last week.

The 18mg daily tablet, manufactured by Lundbeck as Selincro, should be prescribed to adults with alcohol dependence who have a high drinking risk level without physical withdrawal symptoms and who do not require immediate detoxification, Nice said.

Mr Bazire said Nice's recommendation would help alcohol-dependent patients to reduce consumption, which had health benefits despite the common belief that they needed to stop drinking completely.

"People need to recognise that you can reduce the harm by reducing consumption, unlike cigarettes where you have to stop to get the benefits," Mr Bazire told C+D.

Carole Longson, director of Nice's health technology evaluation centre, said the combination of nalmefene and psychosocial interventions was more cost-effective and clinically effective for the NHS than interventions alone.

Alcohol addiction was a serious issue for many people and nalmefene could help "support people in their fight", she added.

Nice's consultation runs until July 29 and it said it expected to publish final guidance in November.

	Do you think nalmefene could be useful in helping heavy drinkers cut down?