Comparison Of Extended-Release And Oral Naltrexone Assists Substance Abuse Treatment Providers

Oral Naltrexone

Oral naltrexone and naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension are the focus of a new comparative report recently released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In April 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new extended-release injectable formulation of naltrexone (Vivitrol ) for the treatment of alcohol dependence in an effort to address the issue of patient non-adherence to oral treatment.

This issue of the Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory compares oral naltrexone and extended release injectable naltrexone. It also answers questions treatment providers, particularly counselors and program administrators, may have about injectable naltrexone. These questions include "

* What is naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension?

* How does injectable naltrexone address patient non-adherence?

* What is the efficacy of injectable naltrexone?

* How safe is injectable naltrexone?

* How can substance abuse specialty treatment providers incorporate injectable naltrexone into their practice?

The comparison table offers seven topical comparisons in the following categories: mechanism of action, usual adult dosage and prescribing information, examples of drugs causing interactions, common side effects, contraindications, precautions and serious adverse reactions. In addition, the report provides information that treatment providers should share with the patients about the drug as well as the effectiveness of injectable naltrexone.