Naltrexone is a prescription med used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid addiction because it stops the activity of opiates. It is also used in the management of alcohol dependence because it appears to decrease the addict's need to drink. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or there is an extended-release injection that can be administered once a month, 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 not unlike heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and blocks the effects of opioid drugs. An individual who has been off all opioid medications for 7-10 days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid meds while taking the drug. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy medications, due to the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these kinds of medications can cause sudden withdrawal reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a full Plymouth treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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