Naltrexone is a medicine 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 addiction because it appears to decrease the user's need to drink. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or there is an extended-release injection that can be given once per month, however the injection can cost up to $1,100 a 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 blocks the effect of opioid medications. Someone who has been abstaining from all opioid medications for 7-10 days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to remain off all other opioid medications 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 medications can cause sudden withdrawal reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full Paoli rehab program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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