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 appears to decrease the user's desire to drink. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or there is an extended-release injection that can be given once per month, although the injection can cost up to $1,100 per month.
The difference between Naltrexone and other medications used to treat opiate dependence is that unlike Methadone which is an agonist and is not unlike heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and negates the effect of opioid drugs. Someone who has been abstaining from all opioid medications for seven to ten days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to remain off all other opioid meds while taking the drug. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy meds, because of the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these types of drugs can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full Los Banos treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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