Somatic complaints, as assessed by the Symptoms Checklist 90 were another predictor of alcohol drinking. Subjects with low baseline somatic complaints had low percentage of days drinking. Placebo subjects with high baseline somatic complaints had much higher percentage of days drinking. However, for naltrexone subjects with high somatic distress, the percentage of days drinking was significantly lower. In conclusion, Naltrexone is generally safe and well tolerated.
Naltrexone reduces alcohol relapse rates when used with some form of psychosocial support.
Naltrexone treatment is particularly helpful in compliant subjects. Naltrexone is particularly helpful in patients at risk for relapse because of co-existing physical or emotional pain. We are still at an early stage in our understanding of how to best integrate medications and psychosocial treatment. While the recent FDA approval of naltrexone promises to usher in a new era for the treatment of alcohol dependence my bias is that any effective treatment for alcohol must integrate a biopsychosocial approach. Like three legs on a stool, the use of mediations, psychotherapy and social support provide a firm base for recovery to occur.