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Which patients can benefit from Naltrexone implants?
In the past NTX was thought to be poorly effective because it was given orally and the treatment success was in the good will of the patient to take NTX every day without cheating his carer. Of course, as it happens with Antabuse with the alcoholic patients the success rate was very poor, and it makes perfect sense, because the nature of the disease is the will and the personality of the patient.
It is important to underline one more time that, Opiate Detoxification is only the first step of a recovery programme, and usually the most important one.
NALTREXONE IMPLANTS ARE NOT FOR EVERYBODY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FIRM COMMITMENT WITH THE TREATMENT.
To be clean is hard, but it's not as difficult as to maintaining clean.
NTX implants are the ideal combination for patients undergoing the first week after detoxification to prevent overdose.
Naltrexone implants have been known to be a potential irritant to tissues for approximately 20 years. The slow release of O’Neal’s NTX implants designed in Perth (Australia), minimises the irritation to tissues to less than 3% of patients.
Implant’s action remains from 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on the type of implant.
We recommend our patient to have first to 6 week implants and after the second try the 6 month one.
NALTREXONE IMPLANTS ARE CONVENIENT IF THE PATIENT:
- is committed with the whole programme, and understands that NI is just "one part" of the therapeutic strategy for treating your opiate dependence.
- is at immediate risk of overdose from opiates.
- has tried to detox several times and failed.
- has the appropriate social (family, partner, friends, other)support and specialized medical throughcare.
- is aware of the OVERDOSE RISK if relapsing once the implant blocking action is due.
- is in frequent direct contact with opiates for professional reasons.
PATIENTS MUST BE AWARE THAT AFTER IMPLANTATION THEY WILL LOSE ALL PREVIOUS TOLERANCE TO OPIATES AND WILL BECAME VERY SENSITIVE TO THEM, AT HIGH RISK OF OVERDOSE IF TAKEN (SMOKING OR INJECTING) THE SAME PREVIOUS AMOUNTS OF DRUGS.
ADVANTAGES OF NALTREXONE IMPLANT:
. Makes relapse almost impossible for the first 12 weeks when the risk is highest.
· Avoids the need to supervise Naltrexone and the arguments it can cause.
· Makes it impossible to 'forget' to take Naltrexone.
· Probably reduces craving even more than oral Naltrexone because there is no point in craving for what you can't have.
DISADVANTAGES:
. Involves (minor) surgery and a small scar with temporary tenderness and bruising.
· Occasional local infection or inflammation of implant site, usually responding to antibiotics, but very unlikely if you follow doctors instructions.