Naltrexone and Alcoholism Treatment 

 

Multiple Choice 

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 

 

____ 1. Executive Summary and Recommendations 

Naltrexone has been approved as an adjunct to psychosocial treatment and should not be seen as a 
replacement for psychosocial interventions. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 2. Patients requiring narcotic analgesia are suitable candidates for naltrexone treatment. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 3. Naltrexone interferes with nonopiod pain medications such as as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 4. The Consensus Panel recommends that patients be abstinent for how many days before initiating naltrexone 
treatment? 

A 

3-7 days 

C 

10-20 days 

B 

5-10 days 

D 

15-30 days 



 

____ 5. What percent of patients experience adverse effects at the initiation of naltrexone treatment? 

A 

5% 

C 

20% 

B 

10% 

D 

25% 



 

____ 6. Chapter 1 - The Current Situation 

What percent of the national health care budget do alcoholics consume? 

A 

5% 

C 

25% 

B 

15% 

D 

40% 



 

____ 7. The abuse of alcohol and other substances can cause profound changes in brain chemistry and function. 
Understanding of this fact may help to reduce the stigma and shame surrounding repeated relapse to alcohol 
abuse. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 8. Chapter 2 - Pharmacological Management with Naltrexone 

When starting a patient on naltrexone treatment, which of the following should be considered a part of 
eligibility determination. 

A 

Dosing strategies 

C 

Concurrent psychosocial intervention 

B 

Medical considerations 

D 

All of the above 



 

____ 9. Naltrexone has been proven to be an effective replacement to psychosocial treatment of alcoholism. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 


 

____ 10. The daily cost of treatment with naltrexone is approximately: 

A 

$2.00 per day 

C 

$6.50 per day 

B 

$4.50 per day 

D 

$8.00 per day 



 

____ 11. Reduction in drinking resulting from treatment combining Naltrexone therapy may lead to improved liver 
function. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 12. For what drug is Naltrexone contraindicated in patients who are addicted and have not yet withdrawn? 

A 

Methamphetamines 

C 

Marijuana 

B 

Opiates 

D 

None of the above 



 

____ 13. There is no withdrawal syndrome associated with naltrexone therapy, therefore the usual daily dose may be 
discontinued without tapering off. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 14. Chapter 3 - Basic Neurobiological and Preclinical Research 

Advances in neurobiological research has helped to establish addiction as a biological brain disease that is 
relapsing and chronic in nature. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 15. The fundamental functional unit of the nervous system is a specialized cell called a: 

A 

Macrophage 

C 

Plasma 

B 

Neuron 

D 

Glial 



 

____ 16. Within a neuron, signals are carried via: 

A 

Neurotransmitters 

C 

Electrical Impulses 

B 

Hormones 

D 

None of the above 



 

____ 17. Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons are neurotransmitters. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 18. Pleasure inducing action that becomes repetitive is called: 

A 

Positive reinforcement 

C 

Natural reinforcement 

B 

Negative reinforcement 

D 

None of the above 



 

____ 19. Unlike many other drugs of abuse (such as opiates, etc.), alcohol acts upon a specific receptor in the brain. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 20. Endogenous opiods, a class of neuropeptides, produce what is know as the “runner’s high” and also reduce 
sensitivity to pain. 


A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 21. Both animal and human studies have shown alcohol to increase levels of GABA. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 22. This neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitor of the central nervous system: 

A 

Dopamine 

C 

Glutamate 

B 

Serotonin 

D 

GABA 



 

____ 23. Men with alcoholic fathers are how many times more likely than men without any family history of 
alcoholism to experience early onset of alcoholism? 

A 

3-5 times 

C 

10-12 times 

B 

5-8times 

D 

20-30 times 



 

____ 24. Chapter 4 - Clinical Findings 

Naltrexone is the first medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of alcohol dependence in nearly 50 
years. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 25. The most impressive result from the studies done with naltrexone were significantly reduced rates of relapse. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 26. The average age of subjects participating in most studies of naltrexone is: 

A 

early 30’s 

C 

late 50’s 

B 

early 40’s 

D 

late 20’s 



 

____ 27. Chapter 5: Clinical Profile 

Naltrexone was approved by the FDA in December of: 

A 

1990 

C 

1994 

B 

1992 

D 

1996 



 

____ 28. By binding to opiod receptor sites within the central nervous system, naltrexone prevents the stimulation of 
opiod receptors. 

A 

True 

B 

False 



 

____ 29. The mean elimination half-life value for naltrexone is: 

A 

2 hours 

C 

8 hours 

B 

6 hours 

D 

None of the above 



 

____ 30. One of the most serious potential adverse effects of naltrexone is kidney toxicity. 

A 

True 

B 

False