Naltrexone for the treatment of obesity: review and update.
Since their discovery in the brain and gastrointestinal tract nearly 40 years ago, endogenous opioid peptides have been progressively shown to play a role in the regulation of food intake. Animal and human studies regarding opioid peptides and ingestive behavior are reviewed. While the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone is associated with minimal weight loss as monotherapy, it does have potential utility in the treatment of obesity when combined with the pro-opiomelanocortin activator bupropion.
Lee
Michael William
MW
Scripps Clinic Center for Weight Management, 12395 El Camino Real, Suite 317, San Diego, CA 92130, USA. Lee.MichaelMD@scrippshealth.org
Fujioka
Ken
K
D000818:Animals; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D016642:Bupropion; D009271:Naltrexone