placebo + naltrexone

The combination of placebo + naltrexone refers to the control arm of the Cocaine Use Reduction with Buprenorphine (CURB) study, a Phase 2/3 clinical trial conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. In this specific regimen, participants received extended-release injectable naltrexone (marketed as Vivitrol) combined with sublingual placebo tablets. Naltrexone is a small molecule opioid antagonist that primarily targets mu-opioid receptors, effectively blocking the effects of exogenous opioids. This combination was used as a baseline to evaluate whether the addition of buprenorphine to a naltrexone-maintained state could reduce cocaine use in individuals with co-occurring cocaine and opioid use disorders. The trial aimed to address the lack of effective pharmacotherapies for cocaine dependence by exploring the synergistic potential of opioid receptor modulation.

Brand names

Vivitrol

Other names

Extended-release naltrexone + placeboPlacebo + Naltrexone