Alvin J. Cronson
1981
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Abstract
Naloxone hydrochloride is a specific narcotic antagonist whose main use is the reversal of coma due to opiates. In 1973 the Drug Research Unit of New York Medical College used it to test the patients’ freedom from opiates, prior to the administration of naltrexone, which is more potent and has a longer duration. Both patients and staff called this procedure a “flush.” If naloxone was administered too soon, generally less than a week after termination of methadone maintenace, abstinence symptoms such as muscle cramps, nausea and hypersecretions would occur. These could be symptomatically treated with diazapam, prochlorpromazine and atropine.