Treatment for Heroin Abuse and Addiction

is an opioid agonist and acts slowly. Methadone is effective for patients who do not respond well to other forms of heroin treatment. Medical professionals recommend taking this slow-acting agonist orally to gradually reach the brain, dampening ” high ” feelings while eliminating withdrawal symptoms. However, methadone is highly addictive; hence, monthly, you should take it under careful monitoring of a medical examiner to prevent overdose. Medical professionals dispense methadone under approved outpatient programs.

is a partial opioid agonist that relieves drug cravings while eliminating the associated harmful side effects or the “high” feeling of using heroin. On the other hand, you can take Subutex ® medication either sublingually or orally. Medical examiners use Subutex ® to help prevent patients from getting high by injecting the medication. Instead, if you inject Subutex ®, you will experience withdrawal symptoms that you don’t feel when you take the drug orally.

Unlike Methadone, Buprenorphine eliminates the daily trip to the clinic because FDA approves certified physicians to prescribe Subutex ®. This makes its treatment more accessible than methadone. Buprenorphine also has generic versions of suboxone and hence becomes cheaper than methadone.

Naltrexone (Vivitrol®), an injectable opioid antagonist not sedating or addictive, blocks opioid actions and eliminates physical drug dependence. However, it has limited effectiveness since most patients find it challenging to comply with its treatment. FDA approved Naltrexone (Vivitrol®) in 2010 as a preventive drug for opioid dependence or relapse following opioid detox. Naltrexone (Vivitrol®) is administered monthly and improves compliance since it eliminates the need for a daily dosage.