Gender differences with high-dose naltrexone in patients with co-occurring cocaine and alcohol dependence

J Subst Abuse Treat. 2008 Jun;34(4):378-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2007.05.011. Epub 2007 Jul 30.

Abstract

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of a higher-than-typical daily dose of naltrexone (150 mg/day), taken for 12 weeks, in 164 patients (n = 116 men and n = 48 women) with co-occurring cocaine and alcohol dependence. Patients were stratified by gender and then randomly assigned to either naltrexone or placebo, and to either cognitive-behavioral therapy or a type of medical management. The two primary outcomes were cocaine use and alcohol use. Significant Gender x Medication interactions were found for cocaine use via urine drug screens (three way, with time) and self-reports (two way) for drug severity (two way) and alcohol use (two way). The type of psychosocial treatment did not affect outcomes. Thus, 150 mg/day naltrexone added to a psychosocial treatment resulted in reductions in cocaine and alcohol use and drug severity in men, compared to higher rates of cocaine and alcohol use and drug severity in women.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology*
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Naltrexone / administration & dosage*
  • Naltrexone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotic Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naltrexone