title: Prevention of suicide by naltrexone in a recently detoxified heroin addict.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Krupitsky
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Masalov
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Didenko
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Burakov
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Romanova
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Zvartau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Woody
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D009271:Naltrexone