Anhedonia, depression, anxiety, and craving in opiate dependent patients stabilized on oral naltrexone or an extended release naltrexone implant.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Naltrexone is a μ-opioid receptor antagonist that blocks opioid effects. Craving, depression, anxiety, and anhedonia are common among opioid dependent individuals and concerns have been raised that naltrexone increases them due to blocking endogenous opioids. Here, we present data that address these concerns.

Objective

Assess the relationship between affective responses and naltrexone treatment.

Methods

Opioid dependent patients (N = 306) were enrolled in a three cell (102ss/cell) randomized, double blind, double dummy, placebo-controlled 6-month trial comparing extended release implantable naltrexone with oral naltrexone and placebo (oral and implant). Monthly assessments of affective responses used a Visual Analog Scale for opioid craving, the Beck Depres

SUBMITTER: Krupitsky E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5156574 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature