High-dose naltrexone therapy and dietary counseling for obesity.
There is considerable evidence that antagonism of the endogenous opioids will suppress food intake in a variety of animal species. The authors report a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the long-acting, orally active narcotic antagonist naltrexone in the promotion of weight loss in obese male subjects who were also undergoing dietary counseling for weight reduction. Subjects received medication (naltrexone, 300 mg/day or placebo) for 8 weeks following an initial 2-week single-blind placebo phase. The results failed to demonstrate an advantage for the active drug. However, the naltrexone was associated with hepatotoxicity when used at this dosage in this population.
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation
D009271:Naltrexone