There seems to be a little confusion about the difference between the two “nal-xone” drugs, naltrexone and naloxone. Two very different drugs, the similar names are confusing but what makes it worse is the fact that both are related to the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. Hopefully this will clear up the misconceptions.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone, like naloxone, is an antagonist that binds to opioid receptors and blocks the effects of opiates. However, naltrexone is used primarily in the treatment of alcohol addiction in an effort to reduce the craving to drink. Its generic name is naltrexone hydrochloride, but it’s sold under the brand names Revia and Depade. An extended release formula is also sold as Vivitrol.

After detox off of opiates or alcohol, naltrexone may be prescribed to help people stay off the sauce—in any form. It effectively blocks any opiates from binding to your opiate receptors so if you do try to get loaded while you’re taking it, it won’t work. You won’t get high at all. But for some reason, it’s rarely prescribed to people who suffer solely from opiate dependence but rather to those who need help fighting the urge to drink. With studies to back it up, it works well to prevent relapse and decrease the severity of relapse when it does occur. For those who need help with opiate addiction, a better medication is Suboxone, which combines buprenorphine and naloxone.

Naloxone

Sold under the brand name Narcan, naloxone is injected into a muscle when overdose on an opioid-based drug occurs. Whether you overdose on a prescription painkiller like Fentanyl, Vicodin, Dilaudid, Darvon or Darvocet, Norco or OxyContin or you overdose on a street drug like heroin or morphine, naloxone stops the overdose dead in its tracks (no pun intended).  It works by heading straight to the opiate receptors and knocking off any opiates that are there, which stops the respiratory depression they cause and the subsequent overdose. It doesn’t work for benzodiazepines like Valium, Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin, nor does it work for stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine.

Naloxone stays active in the system, blocking opiates from binding to your opiate receptors for 30 minutes to 90 minutes. When it wears off, the opiates that caused the overdose are still in your system and their effects will kick in again and, possibly, slam you right back into an overdose. This brief reprieve, however, can be what you need to keep you from dying before you get emergency medical help.

A few things you should know:

- Naloxone won’t let you give a clean drug test.
- Naloxone is effective in fighting an overdose even if you hit a vein.
- Naloxone is ONLY meant to be delivered with a needle in the event that someone is dying.

Suboxone

If you are addicted to opiates and taking Suboxone to detox off of your drug of choice, then you are taking naloxone. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, and it comes in a pill that you take by dissolving it beneath your tongue. The naloxone remains dormant unless you should try to abuse the Suboxone by dissolving it in water and inject it. If you do this, the naloxone will kick in and prevent you from experiencing any of the relief that the buprenorphine provides for those trying to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

So hopefully that clears that up! Any questions?

Seth Binzer, otherwise known as Shifty, is one of the celebrities sharing his drug addiction recovery with the world on VH1’s Celebrity Drug Rehab. Born in LA, he moved around in his childhood only to return to the City of Angels for his teen years. He immersed himself in the West Coast hip hop scene and became a graffiti artist, meeting all the people who would help him start his music career. His high point came when he was the lead singer for Crazytown and their singles “Butterfly” and “Starry Eyed Surprise” were at the top of the charts.

Though his addiction most likely started much earlier, it was touring that perpetuated Seth’s drug addiction as we see it now on the show. The first episode shows him smoking crack before heading to Dr. Drew Pinsky’s rehab program, and as the show has progressed, we’ve seen him go through withdrawal, ostensibly from crack/cocaine.

The withdrawal symptoms exhibited by him and Jeff Conaway seem like two opposite extremes. It goes to show how different the experience can be for each individual. It really depends on how long you’ve been using, what you’ve been using most, in what doses, and what other health issues you have.

For those who are detoxing off of opiate painkillers like Fentanyl, Lortab, Norco and others, a medical Suboxone detox can help mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Taken in place of the opiate of choice, Suboxone binds to the same receptors in the brain, sort of tricking the body into believing that its receiving its usual dose. It doesn’t have the same high or euphoric effect of other, stronger opiates, however, and so immediately returns to you your mental clarity, allowing you to get back in the swing of things at work and at home. For more information about Suboxone treatment, contact the Meditox call center.