[Nalmefene: a novel pharmacotherapeutic option for alcoholism].

Abstract

Relapses into alcoholism are becoming more frequent even after long-term psychotherapy and social therapy. Previous evidence-based pharmacotherapy was limited to administration of acamprosate and the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Both forms of therapy have not become well established in Germany. The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has now approved a further opioid antagonist, nalmefene which is an antagonist of the µ-opioid receptor just as naltrexon and is also a partial agonist of kappa receptors. The preclinical and clinical investigations carried out with nalmefene are presented. It seems to be interesting that in the therapy studies relevant to approval, nalmefene was not administered for support of abstinence but as an"as needed"medication for reduction of drink volume.

• Authors: M Soyka
• Journal: Der Nervenarzt (Nervenarzt) Vol. 85 Issue 5 Pg. 578-82 (May 2014) ISSN: 1433-0407 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Nalmefen : Eine neue pharmakotherapeutische Option bei Alkoholabhängigkeit.
• PMID: 24126432 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Narcotic Antagonists
• Naltrexone
• nalmefene

Topics

• Alcoholism (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Naltrexone (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Narcotic Antagonists (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome