EEG and other effects of naltrexone and heroin in man

This paper reviews older results on EEG and behavioral effects of heroin and opiate antagonists in exaddicts, and presents new findings on the effects of naltrexone in men who have never been addicted. Ten normal volunteers were given on three separate occasions placebo, 50 mg or 100 mg of naltrexone. The average alpha frequency was significantly slower after naltrexone than after placebo. Naltrexone elicited a significant reduction of breathing rate and oral temperature. Those results indicate that naltrexone does not act as a pure narcotic antagonist in non-addicted men.