Naltrexone is a medicine used in the treatment of opiate and prescription opioid abuse and addiction because it stops the activity of opioids. It is also used in the treatment of alcohol addiction as it apparently lessens the user's need 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 up to $1,100 a 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 blocks the effects of opioid meds. Someone who has been abstaining from all opioid medications 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 drugs, because of the fact that being treated with Naltrexone along with these types of drugs can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full Wareham rehab program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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