Naltrexone for alcohol-dependent patients

• Published in: Irish journal of medical science Vol. 173; no. 1; pp. 34 - 37
• Main Authors: Ahmadi, J, Babaeebeigi, M, Maany, I, Porter, J, Mohagheghzadeh, M, Ahmadi, N, Dehbozorgi, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland 01-01-2004
• Subjects: Adult; Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Chi-Square Distribution; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Iran; Male; Middle Aged; Naltrexone - administration & dosage; Naltrexone - therapeutic use; Narcotic Antagonists - administration & dosage; Narcotic Antagonists - therapeutic use; Recurrence; Iran
• ISSN: 0021-1265; 1863-4362
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02914522

Clinical trials have shown that naltrexone 50 mg/day reduces alcohol consumption and relapse rates in alcohol dependents.
To investigate the efficacy of 50mg/day dose of naltrexone in the maintenance of alcohol-dependent subjects over a 36-week treatment period.
Subjects were randomised into two equal groups, consisting of 116 male alcohol-dependent patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence and were seeking treatment. The participants received naltrexone or placebo at a dose of 50 mg/day and were treated in an outpatient clinic, offering a weekly 0.5-hour individual counselling session. Days retained in treatment were measured.
Forty-one participants (35.3%) completed the 36-week study. Completion rates by group were 44.8% for the 50 mg naltrexone group and 25.9% for the placebo group (chi2=4.56, DF=1, 2-sided significance=0.033).
The results support the efficacy and safety of naltrexone for outpatient treatment of alcohol-dependent individuals in Iran.