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The Effect of Naltrexone on Alcohol’s Stimulant Properties and Self‐Administration Behavior in Social Drinkers: Influence of Gender and Genotype
Author(s) -
Setiawan Elaine,
Pihl Robert O.,
Cox Sylvia M. L.,
Gianoulakis Christina,
Palmour Roberta M.,
Benkelfat Chawki,
Leyton Marco
Publication year - 2011
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/j.1530-0277.2011.01446.x
Subject(s) - naltrexone , placebo , alcohol dependence , alcohol , crossover study , psychology , opioid antagonist , narcotic antagonist , opioid , medicine , clinical psychology , pharmacology , receptor , chemistry , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , (+) naloxone
Background: Few pharmacological treatments for alcohol dependence are available. Moreover, the best supported treatment, naltrexone hydrochloride, appears to work for only some. Methods: To investigate potential predictors of these differential responses, 40 social drinkers (20 women) were administered 6 days of treatment with naltrexone vs. placebo in a double‐blind, counterbalanced, crossover design. At the end of each treatment period, participants received a single dose of their preferred alcoholic beverage followed by the opportunity to work for additional alcohol units using a progressive ratio (PR) breakpoint paradigm. All subjects but one were genotyped for the A118G polymorphism of the mu opioid receptor gene (OPRM1). Results: Naltrexone decreased the ethanol‐induced ‘euphoria’ to a priming dose of alcohol in two subgroups: (i) in women, and (ii) in subjects with the A118G polymorphism of the mu opioid receptor gene (OPRM1). Naltrexone did not decrease motivation to work for additional alcoholic beverages on the PR task regardless of gender or genotype. Conclusions: The results add to the evidence that naltrexone decreases positive subjective effects of alcohol, with preferential effects in distinct subgroups. Similar effects in heavier drinkers might decrease alcohol use.