[Alcohol dependence treatment with naltrexone: safety assessment. Observation study group of alcoholic dependence].
OBJECTIVE
The security the naltrexone treatment in alcohol dependence was evaluated by clinic follow-up (tolerance and secondary effects) and analitic follow-up (transaminases and another biological assessment).


METHODS
This is an one open study, not controlled, prospective and multicentric treatment of the alcoholism of Spain. 42 centres recruited alcoholic patients who were treated with 50 mg of naltrexone with pursuit of 6 months.


RESULTS
234 patient were selected, 173 concluded the study. The more frequent secondary effects were: astenia (16%), nausea (11.6%), sleepiness (8%), and insomnia (7%). The majority of patients tolerated well the treatment with naltrexone. Only 5 (3%) patients were dropped out of the study by intolerance to naltrexone. GOT, GPT, GGT levels decreased during the six months of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The naltrexone treatment in alcoholic dependent is well tolerated. The secondary effects are infrequent and only in 3% of them the treatment were interrupted.
Ochoa Mangado
E
E
Servicio de Psiquiatría, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid. eochoa@hrc.insalud.es
Arias Horcajadas
F
F
Torres Hernández
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone