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 dependence as it apparently lessens the user's need to drink. Naltrexone can either be administered daily by tablet, or in injection form that can be given once a month, 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 not like Methadone which is an agonist and is not unlike heroin, Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, and negates the effect of opioid drugs. An individual who has been abstaining from all opioid drugs 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 drugs, due to the fact that taking Naltrexone along with these types of meds can cause sudden withdrawal reactions.
Naltrexone is meant to be used in conjunction with a full Brookside rehab program which would include compliance monitoring, counseling, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification.
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