Naltrexone is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid addiction because it stops the activity of opioids. It is also used in the management of alcohol dependence because it appears to decrease the addict's need to consume alcohol. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or there is an extended-release injection that can be administered once an every four weeks, 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 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 stop taking all other opioid meds while taking the medication. This would include taking Methadone or similar maintenance therapy medications, due to the fact that being treated with Naltrexone along with these kinds of meds can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a full Oneida treatment program which would include counseling, behavioral modification, lifestyle changes, and compliance monitoring.
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