title: The effects of extended-release naltrexone on holiday drinking in alcohol-dependent patients.
abstract: A post hoc analysis examined the effect of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) treatment combined with psychosocial support on alcohol consumption during holiday and nonholiday periods in a cohort of alcohol-dependent patients who had maintained at least 4 days of continuous abstinence before receiving their first treatment. Three parameters of drinking behavior were examined: percentage of drinking days, percentage of heavy drinking days, and the number of drinks per day. Patients receiving XR-NTX 380 mg reported significantly lower median percentages of drinking days, heavy drinking days, and the number of drinks per day compared with the placebo group. Patients treated with XR-NTX 190 mg reported similar results overall. The results suggest that treatment with XR-NTX 380 mg in combination with psychosocial intervention leads to significant reductions in alcohol consumption, with some measures indicating abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients with initial abstinence during holiday periods.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA. slapham@bhrcs.org
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lapham
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Illeperuma
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bohn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012944:Social Support; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone