HIGH-DOSE NALTREXONE AND LIVER-FUNCTION SAFETY

Studies have found naltrexone useful in the treatment of diseases othe r than opiate addiction in which endogenous opioids presumably play a role, such as alcoholism and eating disorders. Some of these studies i nvolve high doses (100-200 mg bid). Because investigational studies wi th high doses (300 mg/day) reported clinically significant increases i n liver enzyme levels, the authors measured a spectrum of liver functi on parameters in response to high doses of naltrexone in a double-blin d, crossover trial (100 mg bid) followed by an open-label period (200 mg bid). They observed no adverse clinical or laboratory changes in li ver function in association with high-dose naltrexone therapy in eatin g disorders.