Naltrexone is a med 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 addiction because it appears to decrease the user's desire to drink. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or in injection form that can be administered once an every four weeks, although the injection can cost up to $1,100 per month.
The difference between Naltrexone and other drugs used to treat opiate addiction is that unlike Methadone which is an agonist and is very similar to heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and negates the effect of opioid meds. Someone who has been off all opioid meds for 7-10 days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid meds while taking the medication. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy meds, because of the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these kinds of drugs can cause sudden withdrawal reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a comprehensive Merion Station treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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