Study claims alcoholism drug could help gambling addiction

Study claims alcoholism drug could help gambling addiction A study of pathological gamblers found that the drug naltrexone could significantly lower the urge to gamble. The study conducted by the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis found that gambling addicts who took the drug naltrexone, usually prescribed to curb alcoholism and drug dependence, experienced a significant decline in the urge to gamble. Almost 40% of the participants who took naltrexone managed to abstain from all gambling for at least 1 month, compared to about 10% of those who took a placebo. The participants in the survey aged between 14 and 59 and gambled for 6-32 per week. The conclusion from the study, posted in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, was that naltrexone is safe and well-tolerated for as long as 4 to 5 months, and helps control symptoms of pathological gambling. Naltrexone is sold under the brand names Revia and Depade, while an extended-release formulation is sold under the name Vivitrol.

Published on 06/05/2008