Tell me about Naltrexone…

Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist used primarily in the management of opioid dependence and alcohol dependence. As an antagonist, it does not provoke a biological response itself upon binding to a receptor but blocks or dampens agonist-mediated responses.

It has been available in the UK for over 30 years and received its UK product license in 1988. More detailed information is available on request, but on the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) web site, you will find in-depth information supporting the use of Naltrexone for heroin addiction and details of an NIDA-supported pilot study into the medication's injected use in particular. Here at Detox 5, we currently use implants for their efficiency over a longer period of time, rather than injections.

"Naltrexone is recommended as a treatment option in detoxified formerly opioid-dependent people who are highly motivated to remain in an abstinence programme." NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence)

NIDA website

From a study (based on 60 heroin-addicted, predominately male (77%), adults aged 18 to 59), Dr. Sandra Comer established that the participants experienced no serious side effects. Among her cited findings, she says,

"Having more tools is really helpful for providers. Some people do better on methadone, others on Naltrexone. We'll have more success if we can offer both."

She goes on to say,

"By increasing treatment retention, depot Naltrexone may allow patients greater contact with appropriate supportive counselling and ease their transition to a life without heroin."

More details of the study itself can be found here:

Naltrexone

If you have any queries that are not answered fully here, please don't hesitate to call us. We have a specialist liaison team who will be happy to help answer your queries.

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