Naltrexone implants are the latest advancement in medical-assisted recovery efforts to help those struggling with addiction. These cutting-edge devices are a future-forward step in addiction medicine, offering patients a more consistent and compliance-friendly approach to treatment.

Like other implants, or similar to a nicotine patch, these devices offer patients a steady dose of

naltrexone—a medication that blocks the addicting effects of opioids. Overall, this helps accomplish one crucial step in the recovery process for addicts: maintaining medication coverage during the vulnerable early months of sobriety.

To learn more for yourself or a loved one, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide about how these groundbreaking implants work. Keep reading to learn more about their effectiveness when combined with rapid detox procedures and why they’re becoming an increasingly important option for those committed to long-term recovery from opioid and alcohol dependence.

What Are Naltrexone Implants?

Naltrexone, on its own or in table form, is an FDA-approved medication that blocks opioid receptors in the brain. This prevents the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids such as morphine, heroin, and codeine while reducing cravings for substances like alcohol.

is an FDA-approved medication that works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, preventing the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids such as heroin, morphine, and codeine while also reducing cravings for alcohol in those with alcohol use disorder.

Naltrexone implants are used with rapid detox, being administered after the body is cleared of opioids and to prevent withdrawal symptoms by blocking any remaining opioids from binding to receptors. This helps simultaneously reduce cravings, creating a more comfortable transition into long-term recovery.

The small, pellet-shaped devices get inserted beneath the skin and deliver a consistent dose of naltrexone over an extended period. Why are implants the best for positive results? Because oral naltrexone tablets require daily administration and can be forgotten or deliberately skipped, which can lead to an addict’s relapse.

How Naltrexone Works in the Body

Now, let’s explore how naltrexone actually works inside the body in implant form. The implants, which measure approximately the size of a matchstick and consist of a biodegradable polymer matrix containing naltrexone that gradually dissolves in the body, provide continuous medication release for 2-6 months, depending on the formulation.

This steady delivery system maintains therapeutic levels of the medication in the bloodstream, effectively blocking opioid receptors and reducing cravings. The medication does by acting as an antagonist once it reaches the brain, binding to opioid receptors without activating them.

This blocks the pleasurable effects and euphoria typically associated with opioid use, essentially making the use of opioids unrewarding. For alcohol dependence, naltrexone reduces any pleasurable sensation and the dopamine release that’s triggered by drinking. This reduces the reinforcing effects that drive continued use.

Like any medication, naltrexone has a unique onset effect timing. As the medication establishes consistent blood levels, naltrexone implants typically reach full effectiveness within 24-48 hours after insertion. Once released, naltrexone is metabolized primarily by the liver and excreted through urine, with the biodegradable implant matrix gradually breaking down and being safely absorbed by the body over time.

Understanding Rapid Detox

Now, let’s better understand rapid detox treatment to understand better how the two can go hand-in-hand. Performed under anesthesia, rapid or sedation, opiate detox is an accelerated method designed to quickly remove opioids from a patient’s system while managing withdrawal symptoms under medical supervision.

This procedure is designed to reduce the typical withdrawal length from days or weeks into a matter of hours. It also allows patients to bypass the most intense, unbearable, and uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal, thanks to being under anesthesia at the time.

Unlike traditional detoxification approaches that can take 5-10 days, rapid treatments typically require only 24-72 hours of clinical supervision, with the most intense part occurring during a 4-8 hour procedure. The treatment involves administering opioid antagonists like naltrexone under sedation or anesthesia.

Other medications medications are also often administered to manage specific withdrawal symptoms. The most common are anti-nausea medicines, anti-anxiety drugs, muscle relaxants, and medications to control blood pressure fluctuations.

How Naltrexone Implants Complement Rapid Detox

When using naltrexone implants in tandem with rapid detox, patients receive a synergistic approach to addiction treatment that addresses both immediate withdrawal management and long-term relapse prevention. Usually, the naltrexone implant will be inserted immediately following the detoxification procedure.

This timing is strategic—the body must be completely clear of opioids before naltrexone is introduced to avoid precipitating severe withdrawal. The detox p has already achieved this clearance, creating the perfect window for implant placement. Again, this combined approach offers advantages over using either method by itself, including:

  • Rapid detox accelerates the initial withdrawal process, while the naltrexone implant provides sustained protection during the critical early months of recovery when relapse risk is highest.
  • Without the implant, patients who undergo rapid detox might experience intense cravings once the procedure is complete, potentially leading to immediate relapse.
  • Patients receiving naltrexone without proper detoxification risk precipitation of severe withdrawal symptoms.

Together, these treatments create a comprehensive system that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction recovery.

The Final Word: Naltrexone Implants & Rapid Detox

Overall, naltrexone implants and rapid detox represent the future of recovery, supporting addicts in their most agonizing time: symptom withdrawals. As you’ve learned here, the implants are safe for implantation and offer the benefits of timed and ongoing release to improve the success of staying clean versus taking oral medication.

Of course, when paired with anesthesia-assisted detox procedures, the two innovative treatments become that much more successful. If you’re considering a path to recovery, learning about anesthesia-assisted detox is the first step. The next step is finding a trusted medical facility that performs the treatment.

Fortunately, you’re in the right place at All Opiates Detox. Explore naltrexone implants and sedation opiate detox performed by board-certified medical doctors and board-certified medical staff. Hear from the practice’s success stories to become inspired for your path to recovery or that of a friend or loved one, and get in touch today to learn more.