Extended-release naltrexone promising for opioid dependence

Extended-release naltrexone promising for opioid dependence

(HealthDay)—Extended-release naltrexone is noninferior to buprenorphine-naloxone for maintaining short-term abstinence from heroin and other illicit substances, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Lars Tanum, M.D., from The University of Oslo in Norway, and colleagues conducted a 12-week, multicenter trial at five urban addiction clinics in Norway. Opioid-dependent adults were recruited and randomized to daily oral flexible-dose buprenorphine-naloxone (79 individuals) or extended-release naltrexone hydrochloride (80 individuals).

The researchers found that retention was noninferior in the extended-release naltrexone group versus the buprenorphine-naloxone group (difference, -0.1; 95 percent confidence interval, -0.2 to 0.1; P = 0.04), with mean time of 69.3 and 63.7 days, respectively (P = 0.33, log-rank test). Extended-release naltrexone was noninferior to buprenorphine-naloxone in terms of the group proportion of total number of opioid-negative urine drug tests (difference, 0.1; 95 percent confidence interval, -0.04 to 0.2; P < 0.001) and use of heroin (mean difference, -3.2; 95 percent confidence interval, -4.9 to -1.5; P < 0.001) and other illicit opioids (mean difference, -2.7; 95 percent interval, -4.6 to -0.9; P < 0.001). Significantly lower use of heroin and other illicit opioids was seen in the extended-release naltrexone group in superiority analysis. Regarding most other illicit substances, there were no significant differences between the treatment groups.

"Extended-release was as effective as buprenorphine-naloxone in maintaining short-term abstinence from and other and should be considered as a treatment option for opioid-dependent individuals," the authors write.

More information: Abstract/Full Text

Journal information: JAMA Psychiatry

Copyright © 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: Extended-release naltrexone promising for opioid dependence (2017, October 19) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-extended-release-naltrexone-opioid.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Clinical trial looks at tramadol for opioid withdrawal

0 shares

Feedback to editors