Comparing and combining gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and naltrexone in maintaining abstinence from alcohol: an open randomised comparative study.
Maintaining abstinence from alcohol is the main goal in treating alcohol dependence. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and naltrexone (NTX), and their combination in maintaining abstinence. Fifty-five alcoholics were randomly enrolled in three groups and treated for 3 months with GHB, GHB plus NTX, and NTX, respectively. At the end of treatments, abstinence was maintained by 13 patients (72.2%) in combination group, 8 patients (40%; P=0.03) in GHB group, and one patient (5.9%; P=0.0001) in NTX group. Relapses in heavy drinking tended to occur more frequently in GHB group (15%) than in either combination group (no cases) or NTX group (5.9%), but such differences were not statistically significant. The GHB/NTX combination was more effective than either drug given alone; this suggests that the two drugs combine their different actions synergistically without suppressing the favourable effects of each other.
Caputo
Fabio
F
G. Fontana Centre for the Study and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Alcohol Addiction, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology and Hepatology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. fabio-caputo@libero.it
Addolorato
Giovanni
G
Stoppo
Michela
M
Francini
Sara
S
Vignoli
Teo
T
Lorenzini
Francesca
F
Del Re
Arfedele
A
Comaschi
Claudio
C
Andreone
Pietro
P
Trevisani
Franco
F
Bernardi
Mauro
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; D012978:Sodium Oxybate