Prevention of suicide by naltrexone in a recently detoxified heroin addict.
This case describes a heroin addict who was participating in a placebo-controlled randomized trial of naltrexone as an aid to relapse prevention. The patient tried to commit suicide by taking a heroin overdose after learning that he was HIV-positive. He was on naltrexone at the time and, as a result, survived what would probably have been a fatal overdose. This case demonstrates that naltrexone can have immediate as well as long-term positive effects in persons who are attempting to recover from heroin addiction.
Krupitsky
E M
EM
St. Petersburg Regional Center for Research in Addiction and Psychopharmacology, affiliated with Pavlov State Medical University, Novo-Deviatkino 19/1, St. Petersburg, Leningrad Region 188661, Russia. kru@ek3506.spb.edu
Masalov
D V
DV
Didenko
T Y
TY
Burakov
A M
AM
Romanova
T N
TN
Zvartau
E E
EE
Woody
G
G
D000328:Adult; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000523:psychology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013997:Time Factors; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D009271:Naltrexone