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Long-term opioid blockade and hedonic response: preliminary data from two open-label extension studies with
Charles P O'Brien1, David R Gastfriend, Robert F Forman
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. obrien@mail.trc.upenn
The American Journal on Addictions
|February 15, 2011
Summary
Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) treatment for alcohol dependence may selectively reduce pleasure from drinking alcohol. This effect was observed across various daily activities in long-term patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) is used for alcohol dependence.
- Understanding its long-term effects on hedonic response is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of long-term XR-NTX on hedonic response in alcohol-dependent patients.
- To assess pleasure ratings for alcohol consumption versus other daily activities.
Main Methods:
- A hedonic survey was administered to 74 alcohol-dependent patients treated with XR-NTX for an average of 3.5 years.
- Patients rated pleasure experienced in the past 90 days for alcohol, sex, exercise, and other activities.
Main Results:
- Alcohol consumption and gambling yielded significantly lower pleasure ratings compared to other activities like music, sex, and food.
- This hedonic blunting effect was independent of XR-NTX dose or treatment duration.
Conclusions:
- Long-term continuous XR-NTX therapy may selectively reduce the pleasure derived from drinking alcohol.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings, considering limitations like the absence of baseline data.
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