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A Systematic Review of Naltrexone for Attenuating Alcohol Consumption in Women with Alcohol Use Disorders
Author(s) -
Canidate Shantrel S.,
Carnaby Giselle D.,
Cook Christa L.,
Cook Robert L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.13313
Subject(s) - naltrexone , placebo , medicine , randomized controlled trial , alcohol use disorder , meta analysis , alcohol dependence , cinahl , heavy drinking , narcotic antagonist , alcohol consumption , alcohol , psychiatry , poison control , injury prevention , environmental health , psychological intervention , alternative medicine , opioid , biochemistry , chemistry , receptor , pathology
Several clinical trials have evaluated naltrexone as a treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs), but few have focused on women. The aim of this review was to systematically review and summarize the evidence regarding the impact of naltrexone compared to placebo for attenuating alcohol consumption in women with an AUD . A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL , and Alcohol Studies Database to identify relevant peer‐reviewed randomized controlled trials ( RCT s) published between January 1990 and August 2016. Seven published trials have evaluated the impact of naltrexone on drinking outcomes in women distinct from men; 903 alcohol‐dependent or heavy drinking women were randomized to receive once daily oral or depot (injectable) naltrexone or placebo with/without behavioral intervention. Two studies examining the quantity of drinks per day observed trends toward reduction in drinking quantity among women who received naltrexone versus placebo. The 4 studies examining the frequency of drinking had mixed results, with 1 study showing a trend that favored naltrexone, 2 showing a trend that favored placebo, and 1 that showed no difference. Two of the 3 studies examining time to relapse observed trends that tended to favor naltrexone for time to any drinking and time to heavy drinking among women who received naltrexone versus placebo. While the growing body of evidence suggests a variety of approaches to treat AUD , the impact of naltrexone to combat AUD in women is understudied. Taken together, the results suggest that naltrexone may lead to modest reductions in quantity of drinking and time to relapse, but not on the frequency of drinking in women. Future research should incorporate sophisticated study designs that examine gender differences and treatment effectiveness among those diagnosed with an AUD and present data separately for men and women.