The Naltrexone Mystery
A preliminary study by the University of Chicago (2006) suggests that the opiate blocker naltrexone may help women quit smoking, but not men. In addition, men had a higher quit-success rate without the drug than women (about 2/3 as compares to 39%). Researcher Andrea King told the Chicago Tribune (10/17/2006) that it is suspected that low tolerance for weight gain main prevent women from remaining smoke free. Information about King's continuing study is posted at ClinicalTrials.gov.
Naltrexone was first approved by the FDA as a treatment for heroin addiction, but the thinking that it blocks natural opiates in the brain has led to research using it to treat many other addictions. In contrast to King's smoking study, Garbutt et al (2005) found that injectable naltrexone therapy was more effective for men than women in treating alcoholism. Jon E. Grant (2003) reported success in three cases of treating compulsive buying with naltrexone. Modesto-Lowe and Van Kirk's 2002 review suggests several lines of inquiry for further naltrexone uses, such as in treating self-injurious behavior and compulsive gambling.
I'd repeat the old saw that quitting smoking isn't easy for anyone, but I'd be lying. Some people are able to stop as soon as they decide to do so. Others struggle and relapse continually. I find quitting smoking easy; I've done it six or seven times. Unfortunately, I find starting smoking much easier. I do have to admit that weight gain has entered my thinking more than once (when I quit last April, I gained about 15% of my body weight over a month). I think it's more of an excuse than a reason. My addiction-addled brain is like a wheedling lover, trying tactic after tactic to convince me that I can have just one, that it will really be okay, that one cigarette is ultimately less harmful than whatever food or other indulgence I'm trying to avoid.
Naltrexone was first approved by the FDA as a treatment for heroin addiction, but the thinking that it blocks natural opiates in the brain has led to research using it to treat many other addictions. In contrast to King's smoking study, Garbutt et al (2005) found that injectable naltrexone therapy was more effective for men than women in treating alcoholism. Jon E. Grant (2003) reported success in three cases of treating compulsive buying with naltrexone. Modesto-Lowe and Van Kirk's 2002 review suggests several lines of inquiry for further naltrexone uses, such as in treating self-injurious behavior and compulsive gambling.
I'd repeat the old saw that quitting smoking isn't easy for anyone, but I'd be lying. Some people are able to stop as soon as they decide to do so. Others struggle and relapse continually. I find quitting smoking easy; I've done it six or seven times. Unfortunately, I find starting smoking much easier. I do have to admit that weight gain has entered my thinking more than once (when I quit last April, I gained about 15% of my body weight over a month). I think it's more of an excuse than a reason. My addiction-addled brain is like a wheedling lover, trying tactic after tactic to convince me that I can have just one, that it will really be okay, that one cigarette is ultimately less harmful than whatever food or other indulgence I'm trying to avoid.