Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Naltrexone

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • 79 Accesses

Synonyms

Depade; Naltrexone hydrochloride; Revia

Indications

Alcohol dependence

Mechanisms of Action

Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist with minimal agonist activity.

Clinical Use (Including Side Effects)

Naltrexone is not currently approved for the treatment of ASD-related symptoms but enjoys some off-label use.

A series of early open-label studies had suggested significant improvements in self-injurious behaviors (SIB). The side effect profile was relatively benign.

Following early data, there have been a few small controlled studies (max sample size 41, Campbell et al., 1993) treating children between the ages of 2.8 and 19 years with naltrexone. A nice systematic review by Elchaar et al. in 2006 has summarized available data in ASD. Overall, the data does not support the use of naltrexone for the treatment of core symptom domains of ASD, despite original hypothesis regarding abnormalities in the endogenous opioid system in ASD (Panksepp et al. 1979). However, preliminary data...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Campbell, M., Anderson, L. T., Small, A. M., Adams, P., Gonzalez, N. M., & Ernst, M. (1993). Naltrexone in autistic children: Behavioral symptoms and attentional learning. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 1283–1291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elchaar, G. M., Maisch, N. M., Augusto, L. M., & Wehring, H. J. (2006). Efficacy and safety of naltrexone use in pediatric patients with autistic disorder. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 40, 1086–1095.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pansepp, J. (1979). A neurochemical theory of autism. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 2, 174–177.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Peadiatrics, University of Toronto, Clinician Scientist, Bloorview Research Institute, 150 kilgour road, Toronto, ON, M4G1R8, Canada

    Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou (Assistant Professor, Clinician Scientist)

  2. Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, M4G1R8, Canada

    Dr. Deepali Mankad M.D.

Authors
  1. Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dr. Deepali Mankad M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evdokia Anagnostou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology Yale University School of Medicine, Chief, Child Psychiatry Children's Hospital at Yale-New Haven Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar (Director, Child Study Center) (Director, Child Study Center)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Anagnostou, E., Mankad, D. (2013). Naltrexone. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1531

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1531

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1697-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1698-3

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation