Nalmefene in the treatment of pathological gambling: multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Br J Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;197(4):330-1. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.078105.

Abstract

Pathological gambling is a disabling disorder experienced by about 1% of adults. We randomised 233 participants (41.6% women) 1:1:1 to nalmefene (20 or 40 mg) or placebo. In analyses performed using an intention-to-treat (ITT) population, nalmefene failed to show statistically significant differences from placebo on primary and secondary outcomes. Post hoc analyses of only participants who received a full titration of the medication for at least 1 week demonstrated that nalmefene 40 mg/day resulted in significantly greater reductions on the primary outcome measure. These findings suggest that medication dosing may be an important consideration in achieving symptom control.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Gambling / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Intention to Treat Analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Naltrexone / administration & dosage
  • Naltrexone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Naltrexone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotic Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Placebos
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Placebos
  • Naltrexone
  • nalmefene