Naltrexone - Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers - New Portland, ME.

Naltrexone is a medication 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 dependence because it appears to decrease the user's need to consume alcohol. Naltrexone comes in tablet form, or in injection form that can be administered once per month, although the injection can cost up to $1,100 per month.

The difference between Naltrexone and other medications used to treat opiate dependence 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 effect of opioid meds. An individual who has been off all opioid medications for seven to ten days can begin treatment with 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, due to the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these kinds of drugs can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.

Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a full New Portland treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.

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