Naltrexone is a med used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid abuse and addiction because it stops the activity of opiates. It is also used in the treatment of alcohol addiction because it appears to decrease the addict's desire to drink. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or in injection form that can be given once a month, although the injection can cost around $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 negates the effects of opioid meds. An individual who has been abstaining from all opioid meds for seven to ten days can begin treatment with 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 drugs, due to the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these types of medications can cause sudden withdrawal reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a comprehensive Burlington treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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