A pilot trial of injectable, extended‐release naltrexone for the treatment of co‐occurring cocaine and alcohol dependence. (22nd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pettinati, Helen M.; Kampman, Kyle M.; Lynch, Kevin G.; Dundon, William D.; Mahoney, Elizabeth M.; Wierzbicki, Michael R.; O'Brien, Charles P.
• Is Part Of: American journal on addictions. Volume 23:Number 6(2014:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 591
• Page End: 597
• Publication Date: 2014-09-22
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.86005
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2014.12146.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-0496

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ajad12146-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>There is a high co‐occurrence of cocaine and alcohol use disorders, and patients with both of these problems are difficult to treat. There is a reasonable rationale and some empirical data to justify a pilot trial of an injectable, extended‐release formulation of naltrexone for treating co‐occurring cocaine and alcohol addiction.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajad12146-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Eighty cocaine (n = 80) and alcohol dependent, treatment‐seeking subjects were randomly assigned to receive either two monthly extended‐release injections of naltrexone or two matching placebo injections in an 8‐week clinical trial, with weekly medical management plus cognitive behavioral therapy visits.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajad12146-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>No differences in reduction in cocaine or alcohol use were observed between the injectable naltrexone and placebo groups during the 8‐week trial.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajad12146-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Injectable extended‐release naltrexone, while an ideal method for ensuring medication adherence in these traditionally hard‐to‐treat patients, did not result in any measurable reduction in cocaine or alcohol use over the course of 8 weeks of treatment. (Am J Addict 2014;23:591–597)</p> </sec> </abstract>