Naltrexone is a prescription medication used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid abuse and addiction because it stops the activity of opiates. It is also used in the management of alcohol dependence because it appears to decrease the user's desire to drink. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or there is an extended-release injection that can be administered once a month, although the injection can cost around $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 meds. An individual who has been abstaining from all opioid meds for seven to ten days can begin taking Naltrexone, but they will have to remain off all other opioid drugs while taking the medication. 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 reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a comprehensive Chinook treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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