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Published on: January 29, 2017
Prevention of suicide by naltrexone in a recently detoxified heroin addict
E M Krupitsky1, D V Masalov, T Y Didenko
1St. 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
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.
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