Posted by shelliR on May 21, 2001, at 22:09:12
In reply to relieve vs. mask » loosmrbls, posted by Elizabeth on May 21, 2001, at 20:21:18
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> > Someone mentioned naltrexone helping them -- I find that fascinating because naltrexone actually blocks opiate receptors, in effect "shutting down" the opiate pathways. This would actually suggest opiate excess.
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> It could be that when they take naltrexone, these people no longer experience relief when they cut, so they stop doing it. Another possibility is that naltrexone prevents dissociation, which may be associated with or lead to cutting. I would be curious to hear from anyone who has used naltrexone as a treatment for self-injurious behaviour and might be able to shed some light on how it works.Elizabeth, I think your first thought was the correct one, based on the view of my friend's therapist who is an expert on dissociation and drug abuse. He gave her naltrexone because cutting actually can create a high. Naltrexone was given to her in the same way as to any drug abuser--to stop the high. Only she liked the feeling of cutting, therefore would not take the pill so I don't know what the result would really have been. She cut often, but not at all deep.
My therapist gave me naltrexone to supplement my nardil--she thought it might be successful because it had some of the properties of opiates. Well, for me it had all the bad properties. I felt drugged--in the same way as if I had taken too much hydrocodone, slightly nauseated, and very depressed. Only one of my forty-five or so trials. And a short one!
Shelli
poster:shelliR
thread:63214
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63872.html