Precipitated withdrawal during maintenance opioid blockade with extended release naltrexone.

Abstract

Background There has been increasing interest in the use of extended release injectable naltrexone for the treatment of opioid dependence.

Case description We report a case of precipitated withdrawal in a 17-year-old adolescent female receiving extended release naltrexone (Vivitrol) for opioid dependence, following her third serial monthly dose of the medication, several days after using oxycodone with mild intoxication.

Conclusions This case suggests that, in some circumstances, the opioid blockade may be overcome when naltrexone levels drop towards the end of the dosing interval, producing vulnerability to subsequent naltrexone-induced withdrawal.

This may provide cautionary guidance for clinical management and dosing strategies.

Full Text

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Authors

• Marc Fishman

Publication date

2008-10-15

Journal

Journal topics

• Substance-Related Disorders
• Tobacco Use Disorder

Language

Eng.

Copyright

Addiction (Abingdon, England)

Dept of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Baltimore, MD 21229, USA. mjfishman [at] comcast.net

Release reference

Addiction. 2008 Aug;103(8):1399-401

Related books

• Books of Substance-Related Disorders
• Books of Tobacco Use Disorder