Naltrexone - Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs - Belfast, ME.

Naltrexone is a medication used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid addiction because it stops the activity of opioids. It is also used in the treatment 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 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 effects of opioid drugs. An individual who has been abstaining from all opioid drugs for 7-10 days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to remain off all other opioid meds while taking the medication. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy meds, due to the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these kinds of medications can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.

Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a full Belfast rehab program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.

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