Naltrexone is a prescription 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 dependence because it apparently lessens the addict's need to drink. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or in injection form that can be administered once per every four weeks, although the injection can cost up to $1,100 a month.
The difference between Naltrexone and other drugs used to treat opiate dependence is that unlike Methadone which is an agonist and is not unlike heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and blocks the effect of opioid drugs. Someone who has been abstaining from all opioid drugs for seven to ten days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid drugs while taking the drug. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy medications, because of the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these kinds of meds can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full Addison rehab program which would include counseling, behavioral modification, lifestyle changes, and compliance monitoring.
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