Which medication is cited as reducing cravings and gambling behavior in problem gambling according to research?

• A. Prozac
• B. Xanax
• C. Naltrexone
• D. Lithium

Answer: (C)

Medications can influence gambling urges by dampening the brain’s reward signals that drive craving and repeated betting. Naltrexone works as an opioid receptor antagonist, blocking the effects of endorphins that get released during rewarding activities. By blunting these rewarding sensations, it reduces the reinforcement the brain associates with gambling, which lowers cravings and the impulse to gamble, leading to fewer gambling episodes in some problem gamblers.

Research support shows that naltrexone can decrease both cravings and gambling behavior in various studies, helping to explain why it’s considered a useful option in treatment. Other medicines listed don’t target these same reward pathways in the context of gambling: Prozac affects serotonin and isn’t established for reducing gambling cravings; Xanax treats anxiety and isn’t shown to reduce gambling urges and can carry risks; Lithium stabilizes mood but isn’t specifically proven to reduce gambling cravings.