Clinical evaluation of naltrexone treatment of opiate-dependent individuals. Report of the National Research Council Committee on Clinical Evaluation of Narcotic Antagonists.
A multiclinic controlled trial of naltrexone in opiate-dependent persons led to these conclusions: (1) a narcotic antagonist is an acceptable treatment for a small number of patients undergoing treatment for opiate dependence; (2) the group most likely to be candidates for such treatment are those who are relatively opiate-free ("post-addicts") and well motivated to seek treatment; (3) although differences between patients treated with placebo and naltrexone were slight, both retention in treatment and opiate-free urine tests favored the naltrexone group; (4) adverse effects of relatively short-term treatment were slight, largely being symptoms and signs of precipitated abstinence in patients with residual dependence.
D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D003932:Heroin / Q000652:urine; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009042:Motivation; D009270:Naloxone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010919:Placebos; D012107:Research Design; D012917:Social Adjustment
D010919:Placebos; D009270:Naloxone; D009271:Naltrexone; D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone