Long‐term safety and efficacy of nalmefene in Japanese patients with alcohol dependence

AIM: The safety and efficacy of nalmefene in Japanese patients with high or very high World Health Organization drinking risk level of alcohol dependence were assessed in a multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase 3 (lead‐in) study. Here, the long‐term safety and efficacy of nalmefene in an open‐label extension of the lead‐in study are presented. METHODS: Patients who completed the 24‐week lead‐in study were eligible for the extension study, where they were treated with nalmefene 20 mg as needed for 24 weeks. The long‐term safety and efficacy of nalmefene 20 mg during the total 48‐week period were evaluated. Treatment‐emergent adverse events during the study period were recorded and change from baseline in the number of heavy drinking days and total alcohol consumption were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, long‐term nalmefene 20 mg was well tolerated; the main treatment‐emergent adverse events reported in ≥5% of patients included nasopharyngitis (37.2%), nausea (36.5%), somnolence (21.2%), dizziness (16.8%), malaise (14.6%), and vomiting (12.4%). The number of heavy drinking days and total alcohol consumption decreased from baseline to 48 weeks (mixed model for repeated measures, least squares mean ± standard error, −15.09 ± 0.77 days/month and −53.20 ± 2.29 g/day, respectively) during the study. CONCLUSION: This long‐term evaluation in Japanese patients with high or very high drinking risk levels of alcohol dependence indicated that nalmefene was safe, well tolerated, and efficacious.