Naltrexone is a prescription 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 dependence because it appears to decrease the user's need to drink. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or there is an extended-release injection that can be administered once an every four weeks, however 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 negates the effect of opioid drugs. An individual who has been abstaining from all opioid medications for seven to ten days can begin treatment with 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, because of the fact that being treated with Naltrexone along with these types of medications can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone is meant to be used along with a full North Sandwich treatment program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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