Nalmefene and its use in alcohol dependence.
A Gual, P Bruguera, H López-Pelayo
Index: Drugs Today (Barc) 50(5) , 347-55, (2014)
Full Text: HTML
Abstract
Nalmefene is the first available drug approved in the E.U. to reduce alcohol use in alcohol-dependent patients. Reduction in alcohol use in heavy drinkers diminishes mortality risk and socio-economic burden. Nalmefene has shown efficacy at 6 months in alcohol-dependent patients with high or very high drinking risk levels in reducing total alcohol consumption (-7.6 g/day [95% confidence interval (CI): -11.6 to -3.5]; P = 0.0003), heavy drinking days (-2.00 days/month [95% CI: -3.00 to -1.00]; P ⟨ 0.00001) and other secondary outcome measures such as γ-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, drinking risk level and Clinical Global Impression. It is generally well tolerated and has limited contraindications and interactions. As-needed dosage is a novel concept in the addictions field, which may overcome limitations of traditional regimens. In the pivotal trials, nalmefene was taken 52% of the days and compliance with the as-needed treatment regimen was good (above 80% of the days) in 68% of the nalmefene-treated patients. A new pharmacological approach combined with a brief psychosocial intervention for alcoholism is available and appears to be feasible, safe and efficacious. Copyright 2014 Prous Science, S.A.U. or its licensors. All rights reserved.
Related Compounds
Related Articles:
Treatment of alcohol dependence: recent progress and reduction of consumption.
2014-12-01
[Minerva Med. 105(6) , 447-66, (2014)]
2014-05-14
[JAMA 311(18) , 1889-900, (2014)]
In vivo characterization of the opioid antagonist nalmefene in mice.
2010-04-10
[Life Sci. 86(15-16) , 624-30, (2010)]
Structural basis for μ-opioid receptor binding and activation.
2011-11-09
[Structure 19(11) , 1683-90, (2011)]
2011-08-01
[Journal. of. Drugs in. Dermatology. 10(8) , 853-60, (2011)]