Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that the hepatic safety profile of prolonged high-dose oral naltrexone (150 mg/d) is acceptable if over-the-counter analgesic use is restricted. METHODS: Data from 41 consecutive outpatients with impulse-control disorder receiving naltrexone therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean treatment duration was 328 days and the mean naltrexone dose was 142 mg/d. Pretherapy/posttherapy mean aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels in the naltrexone-alone group were 21.79/22.54 and 21.74/21.49 U, respectively (all within reference range). CONCLUSIONS: Although limited in scope, these findings support the hypothesis that long-term use of high-dose oral naltrexone is safe in otherwise healthy patients with impulse-control disorders who restrict their intake of acetaminophen, aspirin, or nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). However, confirming studies are needed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 77-79 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Clinical Neuropharmacology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2006 |
Keywords
- Alanine transaminase
- Aspartate transaminase
- Hepatotoxicity
- Impulse-control disorders
- NSAID
- Naltrexone
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Pathologic gambling disorder