A preliminary trial of nalmefene for the treatment of emotional numbing in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Eighteen chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD+) combat veterans were administered nalmefene, a non-FDA approved oral opiate antagonist, based on the hypothesis that emotional numbing is an opiate-mediated phenomenon. Eight veterans showed a favorable response with a marked decrease of emotional numbing and other symptoms of PTSD, including startle response, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, rage and vulnerability. Veterans who responded favorably to the drug demonstrated a waxing and a waning of positive and negative PTSD symptoms with a general improvement in all these symptoms at higher nalmefene dosages. Case descriptions highlight some of the many changes veterans experienced on nalmefene dosage increases.
Glover
H
H
V.A. Medical Center East Orange, New Jersey.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; C038981:nalmefene