A neuroendocrinological hypothesis on gender effects of naltrexone in relapse prevention treatment.

The ability of naltrexone to increase hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA)-axis activity was recently reported to be associated with its effects on the reduction of craving for alcohol. We now present data showing naltrexone to be more efficacious in female alcoholics. Since HPA-axis might be interpreted as a key mechanism of action that could explain the observed gender differences in the abstinence maintenance treatment of alcohol addiction.