Role of Naltrexone in Improving Compulsive Drinking in Psychogenic Polydipsia

Authors

Sukaina Rizvi
Jeffery Gold
Ali M. Khan, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2019

Abstract

Psychogenic polydipsia or self-induced water intoxication is a potentially lethal condition seen in many chronic psychiatric patients. This is a literature review based on therapeutic significance of Naltrexone in improving compulsive water drinking behavior in chronic psychiatrically ill patients with psychogenic polydipsia. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist approved by FDA for alcohol dependence. Extensive literature search provides a line of evidence that suggests correlation of opioid receptor with compulsive water ingestion in animals. However, there is limited data regarding clinical utility of naltrexone in improving psychogenic polydipsia in human species. This review highlights the necessity for further research and trials to elucidate the role of naltrexone in human psychogenic drinking behavior.

Comments

© Copyright 2019 Rizvi et al.

Recommended Citation

Rizvi S, Gold J, Khan A M (August 05, 2019) Role of Naltrexone in Improving Compulsive Drinking in Psychogenic Polydipsia. Cureus 11(8): e5320. DOI 10.7759/cureus.5320

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Publication Title

Cureus

DOI

10.7759/cureus.5320

Academic Level

resident

Mentor/PI Department

Psychiatry