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 treatment of alcohol addiction because it apparently lessens the addict's need to consume alcohol. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or in injection form 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 has many of the same properties as heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and negates the effect of opioid medications. Someone who has been off all opioid medications for 7-10 days can begin treatment with Naltrexone, but they will have to stop taking all other opioid meds 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 drugs can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full East Andover treatment program which would include counseling, behavioral modification, lifestyle changes, and compliance monitoring.
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