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. 2021 May 18;15:999–1015. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S277861

Table 2.

Studies Performed in People with an Alcohol Use Disorder

Author, Publication Year, Study Design Study Population
(N= Initial Population)
Type, Setting, Aim and Intervention Duration Intervention
(N= Final Population)
Outcome ITT SBPP
Studies conducted in peoples with alcohol use disorders
Busch et al, 201763 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients
(N=113)
To compared XR-NTX with O-NTX in treatment attendance prior to discharge 45 days O-NTX
(N=22)
XR-NTX
(N=23)
Both groups had significant reductions in alcohol consumption and high-treatment engagement rates.
Both formulations are feasible to initiate prior to discharge for hospital inpatients.
Yes No
Chokron et al, 201855 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients with HIV
(N=15)
To check barriers to initiation and maintenance of XR-NTX 12 weeks XR-NTX
(N=9)
Control
(N= 6)
Two categories of barriers are identified:
1) Those amenable to change: distance and transportation issues, fear of injections, belief that alcohol use does not warrant pharmacotherapy.
2) Those not amenable to change: interaction of XR-NTX with another medication regimen.
No No
Dermody et al, 201853 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients
(N=76)
To identify predictors of daily NTX adherence and to evaluate a mobile health intervention to improve adherence. 8 weeks O-NTX + MEMS
(N=28)
Control
(N=30)
Adherence was higher when daily mobile assessments was completed.
Days when individuals drank more than usual were related to lower next-day adherence.
Weekend were associated with lower adherence.
Yes No
Edelman et al, 201957 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients with HIV
(N=81)
To evaluate XR-NTX effect on drinking days and improvements in ART adherence or HIV outcomes 24 weeks XR-NTX
(N=25)
Placebo
(N=26)
XR-NTX was associated with fewer heavy drinking days*. XR-NTX was not associated with improvements in ART adherence or HIV outcomes. Yes No
Farhadian et al, 202049 Systematic review (1995 to 2019) AUD patients with HIV (7 studies) To compare the effects of NTX and XR-NTX. O-NTX
(N=2)
XR-NTX
(N=5)
O-NTX and XR-NTX led to reduced alcohol use, improved viral suppression, unchanged ART adherence and has no significant adverse events.
Both NTX and XR-NTX have proved to be safety and efficient.
No No
Gueorguieva et al, 201324 Randomized clinical trial AUD patients
(N=1226)
To compare efficacy of NTX, ACP or PBO alone or with CBT on abstinent and heavy drinking days. 16 weeks Intervention group
PCO/NTX/ACP/NTX+ACP
Control group
PCO/NTX/ACP/NTX+ACP CBT
(N=1174)
Excellent adherers had higher PDA and lower PHDD*
Either NTX or ACP was associated with lower PHDD than placebo for early non-adherers with CBT*.
Younger age, greater drinking severity, dissatisfaction with the medicine and session frequency, adverse events and lack of benefit were related to less favorable medication adherence trajectories.
Yes No
Henderschot et al, 202054 Randomized clinical trial AUD patients
(N=76)
To assess OPRM1 moderation of NTX adherence 8 weeks Mobile intervention
(N=37)
Control
(N=39)
118 G variant/OPRM1 genotype moderated the association of daily adherence with reduced same-day consumption* and craving*. Yes No
Lohit et al, 201651 Prospective study AUD inpatients.
(N =102)
To examine the factors influencing the pattern and extent of anti-craving medication adherence and drinking outcomes at discharge. 18 months 7% - NTX
74% - ACP
7% - Disulfiram
(N =79)
A reduction in adherence to ACP and NTX was associated with decrease in days to alcohol abstinence and increase in relapse rate compared to adherent group*.
Barriers to adherence included younger age, self-decision, emotional factors, and adverse effects.
Yes Yes
Malone et al, 201950 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients
(N =345)
To examine the effectiveness of XR-NTX and O-NTX 20–24 weeks O-NTX
(N=120)
XR-NTX
(N=117)
XR-NTX in a primary care setting is potentially more efficacious, feasible, and cost-effective than O-NTX*. Yes No
Pettinati et al, 201156 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients
(N = 624)
To examined the efficacy of XR-NTX 24 weeks XR-NTX
(N=50)
PBO
(N = 47)
XR-NTX was effective in high severity alcohol dependence for both reduction in heavy drinking and maintenance of abstinence, with implications for the role of adherence pharmacotherapy. Yes No
Stout et al, 201459 Randomized clinical trial AUD patients
(N=1216)
To evaluate variables related to treatment discontinuation. 16 weeks Adherence
(N= 559)
Discontinuation (N=450)
A patient’s decision to stop taking medications during alcohol treatment appears to take place during a weeks-long process of disengagement from treatment. Patients who discontinue medications early in treatment or without medical consultation appear to drink more frequently and more heavily. Yes No
Stoner et al, 201552 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients
(N = 76)
To evaluate whether a mobile health intervention could improve naltrexone adherence. 8 weeks NTX
(N=39)
NTX + MEMS
(N=37)
Intervention group sustained adequate adherence significantly longer than those in the control group* Yes No
Vuoristo et al, 201325 Pre-post intervention AUD patients
(N=315)
To assess drinking pattern response to NTX +CBT 16 weeks Pre-intervention
(NTX+CBT)
Post-intervention
(N=165)
Medication non-adherence is a major barrier to naltrexone’s effectiveness in a real-life treatment setting.
Patients with more severe alcohol problems may need more intensive treatment for achieving better treatment outcome in real-word treatment settings.
Yes Yes
Walker et al, 201948 Retrospective chart review AUD patients
(N=715)
To identify differences in adherence across medications 6 months Adherence of 80%
11.9% Disulfiram
19.4% ACP
22.7% O-NTX
24.4% XR-NTX
Overall adherence to medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder is low across all medications.
Disulfiram had lower adherence than both oral and extended-release injectable naltrexone.*
No No
Witkiewitzet al, 201826 Randomized controlled trial AUD patients
(N=1226)
To evaluate clinical outcomes in AUD patients with opioids misused 68 weeks Medication management
(ACP, NTX, Placebo)
Behavioral + Medication management
Opioid misuse in AUD showed lower rates of medication adherence *
Medication adherence partially mediated the association between opioid misuse, cannabis use, other drug use, and treatment outcomes.
For patients with opioid misuse who are in treatment for AUD, XR-NTX could enhance treatment adherence.
Yes No
Studies conducted in people with comorbid alcohols and opiods use disorders
Cousins et al, 201735 Non randomized and controlled. Intervention study. Patients with both AUD and OUD.
(N= 1908)
Assess adherence between the first and fifth year of treatment. 5 years Check adherence to XR- NTX in 2010 and 2015.
(N= 1908)
XR-NTX initiation doses increased by 59% by the fifth year of the demonstration project compared to Year 1.* The number of subsequent doses increased by 89% from Year 1 to Year 5.* No Yes
Springer et al,
201458
Randomized controlled trial AUD and OUD with HIV
(N=401)
To assess acceptability and retention on XR-NTX among persons living with HIV disease under criminal justice setting 1 month (N=167) CJS based XR-NTX programs are highly acceptable among PLH, however retention on XR-NTX after release is negatively impacted by relapse to cocaine use. Yes No

Note: *Statistical significative.

Abbreviations: NTX, naltrexone; O-NTX, oral naltrexone; XR-NTX, extended-release naltrexone; ACP, acamprosate; PCB, placebo; CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy; VS, ventral striatum; MEMS, Medication Event Monitoring System; PDA, percent days abstinent; PHDD, percent heavy drinking days; PLH, people living with HVI; CJS, criminal justice system; AUD, alcohol use disorder; OUD, opioid use disorder; ITT, intention-to-treat analysis; SBPP, studies based on patient preferences.