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Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. It works in the brain to prevent opiate effects (e.g., feelings of well-being, pain relief). It also decreases the desire to take opiates. Naltrexone is also used to treat alcohol abuse.
Dosage and administration of naltrexone
The guidelines have been established for the dosage and administration of naltrexone. This guidelines recommend an initiation and maintenance dose of 50 mg/day of naltrexone for most patients, usually supplied in a single tablet. Because adverse events may make the patient reluctant to continue the medication, the starting dose can be reduced for several days or divided in two. For example, treatment can begin with either one-quarter of a tablet (12.5 mg/day) or one-half of a tablet (25 mg/day) daily, with food, and eventually move to a full tablet daily (50 mg/day) within 1 to 2 weeks if tolerated.
Duration of alcoholism treatment
Although guidelines indicate that naltrexone should be used for up to 3 months to treat alcoholism, it is recommended that treatment providers individualize the length of naltrexone treatment according to each patient's needs. Initially, the patient can be treated with naltrexone for 3 to 6 months, after which the patient and the therapist can reevaluate the patient's progress.
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