Shot For Alcohol Dependence- article about naltrexone injections for alcoholism

[saorsa.elegy]

MSNBC.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shot shows promise for alcohol dependence
Study: Patients had significant reduction in drinking by the second day
Reuters
updated 4:10 p.m. ET, Thurs., March. 20, 2008
NEW YORK - An extended-release version of the anti-addiction medicine naltrexone reduces drinking in alcohol-dependent patients within two days of being injected, according to a new study.

Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors and is approved for use in alcohol-dependent patients. To improve adherence, "an intramuscular, injectable, extended-release formulation of naltrexone has been developed," Dr. Domenic A. Ciraulo, of Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues explain in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

The researchers tested injectable naltrexone XR in some 600 actively drinking, alcohol-dependent men and women who were given one of two doses of the drug or an inactive placebo every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. The participants also received 12 sessions of standardized, low-intensity psychosocial therapy.

Compared with the placebo patients, those given the higher dose of naltrexone had a significant reduction in the average daily number of drinks consumed by the second day. By the third day, fewer naltrexone patients reported heavy drinking compared with those on placebo (20 percent versus 35 percent, respectively). This reduction was maintained throughout the study.

While patients treated with the lower dose of naltrexone XR experienced reductions in these measures, the differences compared with placebo were not statistically significant.

Ciraulo's team is encouraged by the results. "Potential clinical implications of the rapid, early onset of effect of this medication's delivery system for patients who are dependent on alcohol include facilitation of early engagement in treatment, motivation to continue treatment, and focus on the goals established in counseling," they write.


Copyright 2008 Reuters. Click for restrictions.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23729473/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSN Privacy . Legal
© 2008 MSNBC.com

[sputnik1]

It's Vivitrol: http://www.vivitrol.com/

Swim's doctor has a few patients on Vivitrol. It works quite well for some (maybe about 1/3).

[ex-junkie]

id like to hear stories from alcoholics on naltrexone tablets/vivitrol injections...

particularly their success/unsuccess rates, personal experiences, etc.

swim was on naltrexone for opiate addiction at a few points of her life, and she found that it increased her urge to drink. shes not a drinker, but really hammered the booze when she was on naltrexone.

hence my interest to see how it works for alcholism.

[chillinwill]

Red Rock uses the Vivitrol shot mainly for opiate dependence but it does a fairly good job with alcohol as well. It just makes alcohol not interesting and fun. If one does decide to drink, they can still get drunk but there is no euphoria or fun out of it. Red Rock eventually got to thinking, "What's the point if its not fun and provides no euphoria?" This is the main point he thinks of the Vivitrol shot when applied to alcoholics as it has totally curbed Red Rock's interest in alcohol.

Vivitrol has been a life saver in terms of his opiate dependency but thats another story for another thread as this one only relates to alcohol.