WHO CAN TAKE NALTREXONE?
Naltrexone would be appropriate for any opiate addict who wants to stop using opiates but who has never managed for long or at all except in prison, or one who thinks that relying on will power or counseling alone will not work for them. Naltrexone is not a mood altering drug and is therefore not objectionable to most individuals who advocate abstinence. We advise all patients to seek counseling, particularly group therapy and most particularly active participation in 12-step recovery programs. We can’t over-emphasize the importance of living a 12-step life. Participation in a 12-step recovery program is the single most important form of follow-up care. We believe there is no substitute for the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. If an addict discontinues the use of naltrexone, he must start again with a 10-14 day abstinence period. There are very few side effects from naltrexone and none of them serious. It is difficult to determine whether the symptoms one experiences in
