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Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Differences in delta- and mu-Opioid Receptor Blockade Measured by Positron Emission Tomography in Naltrexone-Treated Recently Abstinent Alcohol-Dependent Subjects
Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication 9 May 2007

Blockade of brain mu-opioid receptor (mu-OR) and delta-opioid receptor (delta-OR) was investigated in recently abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects (N=21) maintained on naltrexone.

The FDA recommended therapeutic dose of naltrexone was sufficient to produce near complete inhibition of the mu-OR in recently abstinent alcohol dependent subjects.

The lower percent inhibition of delta-OR and greater variability in delta-OR blockade by naltrexone across subjects may contribute to individual differences in treatment outcomes to naltrexone.

Further investigations on the relationship between individual differences in delta-OR blockade by naltrexone and clinical outcomes should be explored.

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Reprint Request E-mail: eweerts@jhmi.edu

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