rss
Emerg Med J 2003;20:381-382 doi:10.1136/emj.20.4.381
  • Case report

Effect of innappropriate naltrexone use in a heroin misuser

  1. S H Boyce,
  2. P A R Armstrong,
  3. J Stevenson
  1. Accident and Emergency Department, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr S Boyce, 176 Troon Avenue, Greenhills, East Kilbride G75 8TJ, UK; 
 steveboyce_scotland{at}yahoo.com
  • Accepted 1 March 2002

Abstract

Naltrexone is a long acting opioid receptor antagonist used in controlled opioid withdrawal drug programmes. When taken by an opioid dependent patient an acute withdrawal reaction will be precipitated. The case is presented where a known opioid drug misuser inadvertently ingested naltrexone in conjunction with heroin resulting in severe agitation, requiring heavy sedation followed by general anaesthesia to enable investigation and management of his clinical condition.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.