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Achieving long‐term continuous blood naltrexone and 6‐ß‐naltrexol coverage following sequential naltrexone implants
Author(s) -
Hulse GK,
ArnoldReed DE,
O'Neil G,
Chan CT,
Hansson RC
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1080/13556210410001674112
Subject(s) - naltrexone , medicine , implant , anesthesia , heroin , surgery , pharmacology , opioid , receptor , drug
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess blood free naltrexone and 6‐β‐naltrexol levels with time following treatment with sequential sustained‐release naltrexone preparations. Data were collected from blood samples analysed independently for naltrexone and 6‐β‐naltrexol and from clinical record review at a community heroin treatment clinic in Perth, Western Australia. Five patients received sequential 3.4 g (3.49 ? 0.01 g and 3.36 ? 0.05 g, respectively) naltrexone implants. The second implant was received on average within 131.2 ? 15.67 days of the first implant. The mean length of follow‐up was 307.2 ? 18.28 days of the first implant. Blood naltrexone levels have the potential to remain above 2 and 1 ng/ml for a total of 390 and 524 days, respectively, and blood 6‐β‐naltrexol was maintained above 10 ng/ml for a total of 222 days following insertion of these implants. No patient relapsed to dependent heroin use during the implant coverage period while blood naltrexone concentrations were above 2 ng/ml. Results indicate that blood naltrexone and 6‐β‐naltrexol levels can be maintained above therapeutic levels for prolonged periods following use of sequential 3.4 g naltrexone implants. These extended periods of coverage will offer significant benefits for managing the heroin‐dependent patient.