Limited role of naltrexone in the treatment of opiate addiction
Van Brussel, G.H.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 145(30): 1452-1456
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 11503313 Document Number: 529579
Naltrexone has been used for many years as an opiate antagonist for maintenance treatment to prevent relapse in opiate addiction and, more recently, for rapid opiate detoxification with and without general anaesthesia. Naltrexone is useful for rapid detoxification without anaesthesia. However, the detoxification procedure under anaesthesia lacks a scientific basis. There is no clear evidence of the efficacy of naltrexone maintenance treatment. Poor compliance and possible receptor sensitisation means there may be a potentially increased risk of mortality through opiate overdose following cessation of naltrexone treatment and relapse into addiction.