Anysubject Ltd Personal tutors, tuition, online tutoring, home schooling - all academic subjects and musical instruments - lessons from £12.50/hour. Click here now!

New Treatment for Alcohol Dependence

Depot Naltrezone

In a recent multicenter study published in the July 2004 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and experimental research, it has been proven that depot naltrezone is effective in treating alcohol dependence.

This study is the first multicenter study in the United States that has shown that naltrezone is an effective medication versus patients who took the placebo.

Naltrezone is a medication that blocks brain opiate receptors modulating dopamine and other neurotransmitters. It has been proven in past studies to be effective in reducing alcohol cravings and alcohol consumption.

The 12-week study included 315 alcohol-dependent patients who received intramuscular injections of the medication or placebo. Although there is an oral formulation of the medication, it has been found that patients needed to be highly compliant in order to be successful. Naltrezone injections proved to be much more successful.

Compared with the placebo group, patients who received the naltrexone injection had significantly longer times to the first drinking day, fewer drinking days during treatment, and higher abstinence rate (18% vs. 10%).*

Adverse reactions reported from patients who received the injections were some upper abdominal pain and reactions near the injection site.

Naltrezone has also been used effectively in heroin addiction.

*Parts of this article were adapted from content reported in Medscape Medical News.

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, writer, and speaker. She has been helping clients with all types of life issues since 1998. She is the Founder and Director of www.GirlShrink.com , a site that offers expert online advice, counseling and coaching for women on a variety of issues such as relationships, mental health and more.

Get information about our free advice & other services by Clicking Here .

To subscribe to the self-help GirlShrink newsletter "Better Choices", please go to:The Free GirlShrink Newsletter

Lisa Angelettie m.s.w. http://www.CityMax.com?domain=41241

Still can't find what you are looking for? Use our Google search to help!