Short-term effects of naltrexone in 155 heroin ex-addicts

The narcotic antagonist naltrexone was administered for periods of up to 8 months to a total of 155 patients at a dose of 40-200 mg per day. The antagonistic effect of naltrexone was tested by injections of heroin. Eighty milligrams of natrexone was effective for 48hr. The antagonistic effect decrea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Biological psychiatry (1969) Vol. 11; no. 6; p. 679
Main Authors:	Volavka, J, Resnick, R B, Kestenbaum, R S, Freedman, A M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-12-1976
Subjects:	Abdomen Administration, Oral Blood Pressure - drug effects Brain - drug effects Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Drug Evaluation Heart - drug effects Heroin Dependence - rehabilitation Humans Naloxone - analogs & derivatives Naltrexone - administration & dosage Naltrexone - adverse effects Naltrexone - therapeutic use Pain - chemically induced Respiration - drug effects Substance-Related Disorders Time Factors
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Summary:	The narcotic antagonist naltrexone was administered for periods of up to 8 months to a total of 155 patients at a dose of 40-200 mg per day. The antagonistic effect of naltrexone was tested by injections of heroin. Eighty milligrams of natrexone was effective for 48hr. The antagonistic effect decreased at 72 hr after the administration of 120-200 mg of naltrexone. Laboratory tests indicated no signs of toxicity. Naltrexone may elicit an increase in blood pressure and opigastric pain. Neither of these side effects appear clinically important. No signs of dependence on naltrexone were detected. These results suggest that naltrexone may be useful for clinical treatment of opiate dependence.
ISSN:	0006-3223