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Adapting treatment length to opioid‐dependent individuals’ needs and preferences: a 2‐year follow‐up to a 1‐year study of extended‐release naltrexone
Author(s) -
Solli Kristin Klemmetsby,
Opheim Arild,
Latif ZilleHuma,
Krajci Peter,
Benth Jūratė Šaltytė,
Kunoe Nikolaj,
Tanum Lars
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/add.15378
Subject(s) - naltrexone , medicine , opioid , craving , opioid use disorder , addiction , patient satisfaction , medical prescription , psychiatry , anesthesia , surgery , pharmacology , receptor
Background and aims Extended‐release naltrexone (XR‐NTX) is an under‐used treatment option for opioid dependence, today only available in a few countries in the world. Although effective, safe and feasible in short‐term treatment, long‐term data are scarce and there is no recommendation for required treatment length. The aims of the study were to determine the perceived need of long‐term XR‐NTX treatment and to examine long‐term treatment outcomes. Design In this prospective cohort study, following a parent 1‐year study of XR‐NTX, participants received treatment with XR‐NTX at their own discretion for a maximum of 104 weeks. Setting and participants Five urban, outpatient addiction clinics in Norway, comprising opioid‐dependent adults aged 18–60 years ( n = 50) already participating in the parent study. Intervention XR‐NTX administered as intramuscular injections (380 mg) every 4 weeks. Measurements Time in the study, use of opioids and other illicit substances, opioid craving and treatment satisfaction reported every 4 weeks. Findings Among 58 participants who completed the 1‐year parent study, 50 chose to continue the treatment with XR‐NTX. Median prolonged treatment time was 44.0 weeks [95% confidence interval (CI) = 25.5–62.5], ranging from 8 to 104 weeks. Most participants (35, 70%) reported no relapse to opioid use during treatment while a subgroup (15, 30%) reported relapses to opioids during the study. Scores for mean treatment satisfaction and recommending treatment to others were very high (>9) and mean opioid craving score was very low (<1) on a scale ranging from 0 to 10. Conclusions Extended‐release naltrexone (XR‐NTX) was well tolerated in long‐term treatment of opioid‐dependent individuals in Norway already in XR‐NTX treatment. On average, the participants chose to continue treatment for almost 1 year beyond the initial 9–12 months of treatment. Participants reported high treatment satisfaction and 70% showed no relapse to opioids during the treatment period.