Risk of relapse to non-opioid addictive substances among opioid dependent patients treated with an opioid receptor antagonist or a partial agonist: A randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objective: First study to assess any compensatory increase in use of non-opioid illicit substances and alcohol in opioid dependent patients randomized to treatment with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) or buprenorphine-naloxone (BP-NLX) and in longer term treatment with extended-release naltrexone.

Method: A multicenter, outpatient, open-label randomized clinical trial where patients received intramuscular extended-release naltrexone hydrochloride, 380 mg/month, or daily sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone 8-24/2-6 mg for 12 weeks, and an option to continue with extended-release naltrexone for an additional 36 week follow-up. The study was conducted at five urban addiction clinics and detoxification units in Norway between November 2012, and July 2016.

Life satisfaction among individuals with opioid use disorder receiving extended-release naltrexone: A 12-week randomized controlled trial and a 36-week follow-up.

Introduction: Life satisfaction (LS) in opioid-dependent individuals is lower than in the general population. This study aimed to explore changes in LS during short- and long-term treatment with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX).

Methods: This open-label 12-week clinical trial randomized 159 participants to either monthly XR-NTX or daily buprenorphine-naloxone (BP-NLX).

The Predictive Value of Degree of Preference for Extended-Release Naltrexone for Treatment Adherence, Opioid Use, and Relapse.

Background: Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) is effective for illicit opioid abstinence as an opioid maintenance treatment. To improve treatment outcomes, patient's preference for the modality of treatment is an important factor.

Objectives: We aimed to test the relationship between baseline preference for XR-NTX and adherence to treatment, use of illicit opioids, and risk of relapse.

Risk of Relapse Among Opioid-Dependent Patients Treated With Extended-Release Naltrexone or Buprenorphine-Naloxone: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Objectives: Compare the risk of relapse to heroin and other illicit opioids among opioid-dependent patients receiving treatment with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) or buprenorphine-naloxone (BP-NLX).

Methods: Re-analyzed data from a 12-week multicenter, open-label, randomized treatment study with a subsequent 36-week open-label follow-up study. All patients, N = 143, had completed detoxification and received at least one dose of study medication.

Availability of Extended-Release Naltrexone May Increase the Number of Opioid-Dependent Individuals in Treatment: Extension of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Objective: Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is highly available in Norway, but only 50% of opioid-dependent individuals are enrolled in such programs. This study was aimed at examining if availability of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) could attract individuals who for different reasons were not enrolled in an OMT program.

Methods: In a Norwegian clinical study, n = 117 opioid-dependent adults volunteered to receive XR-NTX in a 9-month period, as an extension of a previous randomized clinical trial.

Interest in Extended Release Naltrexone among Opioid Users.

Background/aims: Treatment for addiction to illicit opioids has, thus far, been limited to 2 main approaches: maintaining physical dependence by administering opioids medically and medication-free abstinence with psychosocial support. Assisted abstinence by taking daily tablets with the opioid antagonist naltrexone is rarely practiced, but it is unclear whether this is due to the limited efficacy of this method or because of user opposition to antagonist medication. Therefore, we wanted to investigate opioid users' interest in antagonist treatment with naltrexone, administered as extended release injection, which supports abstinence by blocking illicit opioids for 4-5 weeks per administration.

Design of a randomized controlled trial of extended-release naltrexone versus daily buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid dependence in Norway (NTX-SBX).

Background: Current guidelines for opioid dependence recommend daily maintenance of physical dependence with methadone or buprenorphine, and discourage abstinence due to the high risk of relapse and overdose. Extended-release formulations of the opioid antagonist naltrexone (XR-NTX) block heroin and other opioid agonists competitively for around 4 weeks per administration. XR-NTX thus enables opioid users to experience abstinence from opioid agonists with greatly reduced risk of overdose compared to medication-free abstinence.