title: Narcotic antagonist treatment: clinical experience with naltrexone.
abstract: Narcotic antagonist (naltrexone) treatment experience with 22 opioid addicts over a 29-month period shows that the mean duration of receipt of naltrexone was 6.2 weeks, and 12 subjects (55%) continued in treatment after cessation of naltrexone for an average of 5.6 weeks. Analysis of physical and behavioral measured revealed no toxicity, indicating that naltrexone appears to be a safe drug. Clinical evaluation of the patients receiving naltrexone suggests that ingestion of naltrexone provides a degree of external control, reducing the preoccupation with heroin and releasing energy for the pursuit of other goals. Subject follow-up at an average of 45.3 weeks after cessation of naltrexone indicated that 11 (58%) were known to be abstinent, and 9 (47%) subjects were employed compared with 3 (16%) employed at the onset of treatment.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D004651:Employment; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D009271:Naltrexone