Naltrexone is a medicine 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 addiction as it apparently lessens the addict's desire to consume alcohol. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or in injection form that can be administered once an every four weeks, although the injection can cost around $1,100 per month.
The difference between Naltrexone and other medications 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. An individual who has been off all opioid meds for 7-10 days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid medications while taking the drug. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy medications, because of the fact that being treated with Naltrexone along with these kinds of meds can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full Bloomfield treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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