Naltrexone and brief counseling to reduce heavy drinking in hazardous drinkers.
The present study examined the utility of daily naltrexone for decreasing alcohol drinking in hazardous drinkers. Forty-one participants participated in a 10-week trial and received 30 min of brief counseling on the first and second week of treatment, as well as a daily dose of 50 mg of naltrexone throughout the trial. Overall, naltrexone-treated participants did not show the same degree of improvement on drinking outcomes as placebo-treated participants. The placebo group drank fewer drinks per drinking day and achieved more abstinence days than the naltrexone group. Craving was also lower for the placebo group. The groups were not balanced on gender or family history of alcoholism and this may explain the lack of effect of naltrexone on the drinking outcomes.
Davidson
Dena
D
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University, 791 Union Drive Indianapolis 46202-4887, USA. ddavids2@iupui.edu
Saha
Chandan
C
Scifres
Stephanie
S
Fyffe
Joanne
J
O'Connor
Sean
S
Selzer
Christopher
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003192:Compulsive Behavior; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D009271:Naltrexone