An injectable, sustained-release formulation of naltrexone is a safe and effective treatment for patients who are addicted to opioid drugs, such as heroin, new research suggests. Naltrexone in oral form is very effective in preventing and reversing the effects of opioid drugs. However, it has not been particularly useful because patients often stop taking it, according to the report in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The development of a longer lasting naltrexone formulation has renewed interest in this drug. Dr. Sandra D. Comer, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York, and colleagues assessed the outcome of 60 heroin-dependent adults who were randomly assigned to receive injections of sustained-release naltrexone, at a 192-mg or 384-mg dose, or placebo. This formulation can block the effects of injected drugs for three to five weeks, depending on the dose. --More 22 26 Local Time 19 26 GMT
