Naltrexone's effects on reactivity to alcohol cues among alcoholic men

The mechanisms of naltrexone's effects on urges to drink during abstinence are unclear. Naltrexone may suppress either urges to drink specifically or appetitive responses in general. The effects of naltrexone on cue reactivit y to alcoholic and sweet nonalcoholic beverages were investigated. Alcohol- dependent men (N = 53) in treatment received naltrexone (50 mg) or placebo. Four hours later, they received baseline assessment, exposure to fruit jui ce, and exposure to their usual alcoholic beverage in 3-min trials. Naltrex one reduced urge to drink and self-reported attention to the alcohol cues, not at the initial exposure but after repeated exposures to alcohol cues. N altrexone reduced negative affect across baseline and alcohol trials. No ef fects of naltrexone on responses to the nonalcoholic appetitive beverage cu es were found, suggesting that general appetite suppression does not mediat e the effects of naltrexone on urges.