Naltrexone and its Effects on Craving and Alcohol Use among Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndroms: A Report

Document Type : Short Communication(s)

Authors

National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India

10.34172/ahj.1494

Abstract

Background: Naltrexone is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anti-craving agent for the long-term treatment of 
alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS). However, it may not be equally effective in all patients. This study aims to assess naltrexone 
treatment response over four weeks in a national-level tertiary care setting.
Methods: Male patients with ADS (n=100) who were initiated on naltrexone were included in the study. The clinical data, 
including the drinking pattern and craving, were recorded at baseline. At the end of the one-month follow-up, the drinking status 
and compliance with naltrexone were recorded. 
Findings: At the end of one month, more than half of the patients (n=53) were retained in the study. All the treatment-retained 
patients (n=53) reported naltrexone consumption for more than 24 days in the last month. Those who retained in the study 
reported significantly less craving among 72% of patients, while an almost 50% reduction in alcohol use was observed.
Conclusion: This study adds to the evidence of outcomes with naltrexone in terms of reduced craving and alcohol use.

Highlights

Ram Kumar: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Rizwana Quraishi: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Siddharth Sarkar: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Ravindra Rao: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Atul Ambekar: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords


1. Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Khandelwal SK, 
Chadda RK. Magnitude of Substance Use in India. New Delhi: 
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of 
India; 2019.
2. De Sousa A. The pharmacotherapy of alcohol dependence: a 
state-of-the-art review. Mens Sana Monogr. 2010;8(1):69-82. 
doi: 10.4103/0973-1229.58820.
3. Ambekar A, Kattimani S. Anti-Craving Medications 
in the Treatment of Alcoholism. Manual for long term 
pharmacotherapy. National Drug Dependence Treatment 
Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, developed 
under WHO, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government 
of India; 2006. 
4. Rösner S, Hackl-Herrwerth A, Leucht S, Vecchi S, Srisurapanont 
M, Soyka M. Opioid antagonists for alcohol dependence. 
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010(12):CD001867. doi: 
10.1002/14651858.CD001867.pub3.
5. Maisel NC, Blodgett JC, Wilbourne PL, Humphreys K, Finney 
JW. Meta-analysis of naltrexone and acamprosate for treating 
alcohol use disorders: when are these medications most 
helpful? Addiction. 2013;108(2):275-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-
0443.2012.04054.x.
6. Streeton C, Whelan G. Naltrexone, a relapse prevention 
maintenance treatment of alcohol dependence: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Alcohol Alcohol. 
2001;36(6):544-52. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/36.6.544.
7. Srisurapanont M, Jarusuraisin N. Naltrexone for the treatment 
of alcoholism: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled 
trials. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2005;8(2):267-80. doi: 
10.1017/s1461145704004997.
8. De Sousa A, De Sousa A. A one-year pragmatic trial 
of naltrexone vs disulfiram in the treatment of alcohol 
dependence. Alcohol Alcohol. 2004;39(6):528-31. doi: 
10.1093/alcalc/agh104.
9. Basu D, Ghosh A, Sarkar S, Patra BN, Subodh BN, Mattoo 
SK. Initial treatment dropout in patients with substance use 
disorders attending a tertiary care de-addiction centre in 
north India. Indian J Med Res. 2017;146(Suppl):S77-84. doi: 
10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1309_15.