What is Naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a medicine that has no mood-altering effects and is completely non-addictive.
We use it to cleanse you of opiates in your system while you are undergoing the first phase of the Detox 5 programme, and then afterwards, in a 50g daily dose, when it's vital to help you stay clean in the future.
Sounds good so far but what exactly does it do?
It's an opiate-blocker. It travels to your brain and spinal cord, where it knocks any remaining opiates off your body's 'receptors'. It then takes a much stronger hold that opiates can't break through. It's non-addictive, and it blocks the effects of any opiates taken in the future. You can't feel the 'buzz'.
How do I take it?
During your initial detox phase, you will be given a 'challenge dose' of Naltrexone to clean out any opiates still in your system. After this, generally you'll take a 50mg dose of Naltrexone in tablet form every day for around 12 months. This happens under the supervision of a family member or close friend.
What happens if…?
… if you try to get 'high' while you're taking Naltrexone? Nothing. It's just not possible to feel a buzz while you're taking the medication regularly as prescribed. But it is possible to suffer from stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea if you put it to the test. Don't worry - our ongoing support, drug counselling, and your family or friends will help you through the tough times.
And if I stop taking it…?
We hope this won't happen. It's why we insist on someone taking responsibility for your medication after you leave the clinic. But, as your tolerance to opiates will have reduced substantially, if you did stop taking Naltrexone and returned to taking opiates then there's a high risk of overdose and that can be fatal.
Are there any risks?
Yes, all medical treatments involve risks, but fewer than 1% of our patients have complications. In most cases it's because we weren't aware of a pre-existing medical condition, or because there's been an attempt to overcome the Naltrexone through opiate use.
It's important to let us know about any existing conditions you may have, or may not be sure of; we can usually adapt our treatment to suit your circumstances.
So what's an implant?
As an option to taking the prescribed 50mg Naltrexone tablet each day you could follow a course of treatment that involves implants.
These implants contain very small strips of pea-sized Naltrexone pellets (we use two groups of 10 pellets, known as the double O'Neill implant), which are inserted just in front of the hip bone during a short surgical procedure. The pellets then dissolve slowly over a period of time; it varies between four and six months.
They work in exactly the same way as orally-taken tablets, with the obvious benefit of no need to remember daily medication.
Is it a painful procedure?
Fitting the implant takes around 20 minutes. It's done under local anaesthetic - you may feel a slight stinging sensation, as though you were having a vaccination - but you will feel no pain during the procedure.
Afterwards, the area around the implant may be a little tender for a few hours, but we will advise on appropriate medication if this is the case.
What happens afterwards?
We encourage a family member or friend to be with you during the process and take you home afterwards. You should be able to leave us about two hours after the procedure is over; sometimes we may ask you to stay a little longer to be sure you are comfortable.
The O'Neill implant lasts for between four and six months, so we call you back for a blood test after 16 weeks. This lets us establish the Naltrexone levels in your system and whether a further implant is needed. We recommend using Naltrexone for a period of 12 months, but treatment can also be in tablet form during this period.
And if I…?
… and if you take opiates while the implant is in place, it will work in the same way as orally-taken Naltrexone. There will be no 'buzz'. Repeated attempts to over-ride it however, will shorten the implant's life-span and could result in an overdose.
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