2020 Volume 61 Issue 6 Pages 335-340
Harm reduction by reducing alcohol consumption, which has been used as a treatment of alcohol dependence, has now gained recognition in Japan. Nalmefene is currently approved in Japan to reduce alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent patients.
A 61-year-old man diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis 2 years ago was admitted to our hospital for abdominal distension and leg edema. At the time of admission, abdominal CT showed massive ascites, consistent with cirrhosis. Ascites and leg edema were gradually improved by diuretic therapy using tolvaptan and conventional diuretics. However, he resumed alcohol drinking 4 months after abstinence. Therefore, we proposed harm reduction therapy, and he was treated with nalmefene and abstinence from alcohol. Therefore, nalmefene may be a valuable pharmacological treatment option for alcohol-dependent patients who are either not ready or unable to consider complete abstinence as the initial treatment goal or have not undergone any treatment.
