Pharmacological enhancement of naltrexone treatment for opioid dependence: a review.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Opioid dependence (OD) is a serious and growing clinical condition with increasing social costs that requires expanding treatment beyond opioid agonist substitution. The opioid antagonist naltrexone has displayed a remarkable association of theoretical effectiveness and poor clinical utility in treating OD due to noncompliant behavior and low acceptability among patients, only partly modified by psychosocial interventions. We reviewed pharmacological studies, including naltrexone depot formulations and combination treatments. METHOD: We searched PubMed for clinical studies on the use of naltrexone implants and slow-release injections in OD, and investigations using adjunct medications to improve naltrexone maintenance therapy of OD. We discussed the results in view of their applic

SUBMITTER: Mannelli P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3128868 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature