Naltrexone is a medication 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 consume alcohol. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or in injection form 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 very similar to heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and negates the effect of opioid medications. Someone who has been off all opioid drugs for seven to ten days can begin treatment with Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid medications while taking the medication. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy meds, due to the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these types of meds can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a comprehensive Elwood rehab program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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