Psychiatria pre prax 3/2023

Naltrexone – Looking back and forward at naltrexone and its confirmed and potential therapeutic use

There are limited therapy options for treating substance addiction, which is a challenging issue that has persisted for decades. For alcohol use disorder, a variety of treatment modalities have been identified, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological options. Opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone has been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption and relapse risk among individuals who misuse or are dependent on alcohol. A fixed-dose combination of naltrexone and bupropion is approved for obesity. In some countries, naltrexone is used to treat opioid dependence. Off-label use includes treating patients with stimulant use disorder, particularly patients with polydrug and nicotine dependence, for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disorders. Recently published systematic review showed clinical benefit in patients with cholestatic pruritus in adults treated by naltrexone.

Keywords: naltrexone, alcohol dependence, opioid receptor antagonism, somatic and psychiatric comorbidities of alcoholism