Originally published April 13 2005
Monthly shot of naltrexone could help alcoholics recover
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Naltrexone, whose pill form has already been approved for fighting alcoholism, has recently been tested as an injection. By giving the drug in a shot rather than a daily pill, the effects last much longer and do not require a person to take a pill every day. A recent study of the drug's effectiveness found that, when combined with therapy, naltrexone reduced the number of days that the alcoholics drank heavily, particularly with the strong, 380 milligram dose that was tested. However, 14 percent of the people tested dropped out of the study because of the side effects, which include headaches, nausea and fatigue.
A monthly shot of the prescription drug naltrexone --- plus counseling --- could help reduce heavy drinking in people with alcoholism.
The monthly shot might be a more convenient approach than current daily oral doses, say the researchers, some of whom are Alkermes employees.
As we learn more about how the brain is affected by alcohol, we are discovering how best to provide treatment --- like adding a safe medication to counseling.
A long-acting injectable, which eliminates the burden of daily pill taking, will open new doors for our patients and give hope to them and their families," writes researcher Helen Pettinati, PhD, in a news release.
On April 7, more than 5,000 sites nationwide will offer free, anonymous screenings regarding alcohol use.
National Alcohol Screening Day is sponsored by several government agencies including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a branch of the National Institutes of Health.
Alcoholism is increasingly viewed as a chronic disease that can be affected by genetics, social, and environmental factors, they note.
The drug had been shown to reduce drinking frequency and the likelihood that people would relapse back into heavy drinking, say the researchers.
That may be partly due to variations in treatment response --- which could be related to the drug's regimen, say Garbutt and colleagues.
Nearly 200 patients got a monthly injection of 380 milligrams of naltrexone.
Neither dose of naltrexone significantly lowered the rate of "risky drinking" or any drinking, the study shows.
For people facing alcoholism, risky drinking days are defined as more than two daily drinks for men or more than one for women.
Besides the Alkermes employees, several of the scientists have consulted for or received research support from the company, according to the journal.
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