Naltrexone is a medicine used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid addiction because it stops the activity of opioids. It is also used in the management of alcohol dependence because it appears to decrease the user's need to consume alcohol. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or in injection form that can be administered once a month, although the injection can cost around $1,100 per month.
The difference between Naltrexone and other medications used to treat opiate dependence is that not like Methadone which is an agonist and is very similar to heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and negates the effect of opioid drugs. An individual who has been abstaining from all opioid medications for 7-10 days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid medications while taking the drug. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy drugs, because of the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these types of meds can cause sudden withdrawal reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a comprehensive Blandon treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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