METHOD OF TREATING ALCOHOLISM OR ALCOHOL ABUSE

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of treating alcoholism or alcohol abuse by administering to a subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of an opioid antagonist before imminent drinking, particularly, by administering said opioid antagonist transmucosally. Preferably, the opioid antagonist used in the method is nalmefene or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention also relates to a method of treating alcoholism or alcohol abuse by administering to a subject before imminent drinking a transmucosal preparation having rapid onset of action. Advantageously, a FAH+ subject is treated. Further, the invention relates to a method of treating alcoholism or alcohol abuse of a FAH+ subject, comprising extinguishing an alcohol-drinking response by administering to the FAH+ subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of nalmefene or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.