Title:Opioid Antagonists for Pharmacological Treatment of Gambling Disorder: Are they Relevant?
Volume: 16
Issue: 10
Author(s): Caroline Victorri-Vigneau*, Andrew Spiers, Pascal Caillet, Mélanie Bruneau, IGNACE-consortium, Gaëlle Challet-Bouju and Marie Grall-Bronnec
Affiliation:
- Pharmacology Department, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes,France
Keywords:
Nalmefene, naltrexone, gambling disorder, opioid antagonists, pathological gambling, addictive disorders.
Abstract: Background: To date, no drugs have been approved for gambling disorder. Numerous
publications have described the value of opioid antagonists. Indeed, the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic
pathway has been suggested as the underlying cause of reward-seeking behaviour, and it is
modulated by the opioid system.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relevance of opioid antagonists for treating GD.
Method: A systematic literature review was conducted. A search of the PubMed electronic database,
PsycINFO and the Cochrane Systematic Review Database without any limits was performed.
Results: There is little information concerning the effects of opioid antagonists on GD. The total
search with “nalmefene and gambling” without any limits revealed only 11 articles. The search with
“naltrexone and gambling” without any limits generated 47 articles. Nevertheless, the best available
data support the use of opioid antagonists, particularly in individuals with a history of alcohol use
disorder or strong gambling urges.
Conclusion: Future trials are still needed. Indeed, opioid antagonists effectiveness has been investigated
in only a limited number of patients, clinical trials do not reflect the heterogeneity of GD and
there is little knowledge of the predictive factors of response to treatments. Moreover, differential
affinity to nalmefene for kappa receptors may be associated with a particular effect in a yet to be
defined addiction phenotype. Head to head comparisons between naltrexone and nalmefene would
be helpful in combining other medication or psychotherapy. The identification of subgroups of patients
that are more likely to benefit from opioid antagonists should be a goal.
