The Coleman Institute Provides Naltrexone Therapy Options In Richmond, VA

How Does Naltrexone Therapy Help Patients Stop Using Opioids?

Naltrexone is a medication that acts as an opioid antagonist. This means it works by blocking the opioid receptors in a person’s brain. These receptors are primarily known for their role in producing pleasure and reward sensations in opioid use. When opioid receptors are blocked, it helps dramatically reduce the patient’s cravings for opioids. With Naltrexone Therapy, most patients find it much easier to avoid relapsing and take the steps they need to take to live a healthier life free of substance use.

Small doses of Naltrexone are given along with comfort medication during the initial days of our detoxification program to help the client detox comfortably.

At the end of the program, the patient is given one of two special formulations of long-acting Naltrexone to help reduce cravings:

• Naltrexone Implant – we place a small Naltrexone implant under the patient’s skin, where it slowly releases the medication over time.
• Vivitrol – Vivitrol is a branded version of injectable Naltrexone

Although patients can take Naltrexone orally, we’ve found that many people either forget or choose not to take it— so they’re more likely to relapse. We’ve seen much-improved results by using implants and injections.

If you’re ready to stop using opioids and take the first step toward recovery, schedule a callback with the button below.

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What To Expect From Our Naltrexone Treatment Program In Richmond, VA

Choosing the right program to detox from opioids is an important step in your journey toward recovery. We’re here to help you through the process every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect if you decide to pursue Naltrexone Therapy using the Coleman Method:

Getting Started:

You can start by calling us now at 877-773-3869 or request a callback to receive a call from one of the Care Advocates on the Coleman Institute – Richmond, VA team. During this call, your Care Advocate will answer any questions you may have about Naltrexone Therapy and will help you choose the dates you want to start your detox. Because the initial detox treatment can be completed in as little as 3 days, depending on the substance you are detoxing from and the severity, many of our patients opt to start treatment on a Friday so they can be back at work by Monday morning.

Before Your Appointment:

We ask all of our patients to stop using opioids 16-48 hours before their first scheduled appointment, based on guidance from our physicians. We also ask all patients to have a support person with them for the duration of the detox program and for 48 hours after detox is complete. This support person is crucial because patients going through detox should not drive motor vehicles and should be monitored at all times to ensure their safety.

Your First Appointment:

At the first appointment at our Richmond, VA detox center, the patient may be experiencing mild withdrawal symptoms from stopping use of opioids. One of our experienced, licensed practitioners will give the patient a tailored dose of comfort medications throughout the day to help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms and help the patient detox as comfortably as possible. The patient will also be given micro-dose Naltrexone.

Intermediate Appointments:

Intermediate detox appointments are similar to the first appointment. The practitioner will continue to administer doses of comfort medications tailored to the patient’s individual needs, and micro-dose Naltrexone will continue to be administered.

Final Appointment:

By the final appointment, the patient will have made significant progress. The patient will rest comfortably in a private room at our detox center while the remaining opioids are gently removed from the brain. This process usually takes around 6 to 8 hours, and patients are monitored closely for their entire stay to ensure that they are comfortable and safe. When detox is complete, the patient is given long-lasting Naltrexone that releases over the course of several weeks in the form of either an implant or an injection to help reduce cravings and give them the support they need to start a new life free from addiction.

We strongly recommend that patients continue Naltrexone Therapy for at least 12 months after completing detox. Recent research has shown that it can take a year or more for the brain to fully heal from opioid addiction. It also takes time to learn about recovery, build a support system, and integrate new habits into their lives that will help them stay away from substance use.

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Why Choose Naltrexone Therapy At The Coleman Institute In Richmond, VA

Most people need professional help to detox from opioids. The withdrawal symptoms that come when trying to detox without help are so unpleasant and potentially dangerous that most people seek out some sort of medical detoxification program. Here are some common opioid detox options available in Richmond, VA and the surrounding area:

Self-Detox:

Trying to stop using opioids on your own can be very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. “Going cold turkey” and stopping the use of opioids suddenly without the supervision of a medical professional can result in extreme physical discomfort, and can even be life-threatening. And trying to wean yourself off of opioids by tapering off your usage is almost never successful. Because of the potential dangers and high probability of relapse, we do not recommend self-detox under any circumstances.

Inpatient Detox:

The typical inpatient detox program involves a long stay in a rehab facility or hospital where professionals monitor the patient and prescribe medicines to help with withdrawal pain and discomfort. The length of the stay can vary depending on the patient’s condition, but it can last for upwards of 30 days. Such a long stay can be very disruptive to daily activities, and it can end up being very expensive.

Ultra Rapid Opioid Detoxification (URD or UROD):

Ultra Rapid Opioid Detoxification is a method of inpatient detoxification where professionals put the patient under general anesthesia and administer opioid antagonists like Naltrexone intravenously. It can take as little as five minutes to fully flush substances out of a patient’s system using this method, but this treatment is extremely expensive and can come with serious medical risks. In severe cases, fatalities have been reported after Ultra Rapid Detox. For this reason, we haven’t performed this procedure since 2001.

Methadone or Buprenorphine:

Many people are familiar with other forms of Medication-Assisted opioid treatment that involve the use of Methadone or Suboxone (Buprenorphine). These medications can be very effective for transitioning away from more dangerous opioids, but it’s important to note that these medications are still opioids. When patients are ready to stop using opioids altogether, they will then have to face the challenge of detoxing from the Methadone or Suboxone. Many of our patients say that detoxing from Methadone or Suboxone can be more difficult than detoxing from the opioids they were using before.

Outpatient Opioid Detox with Naltrexone Therapy:

Our Naltrexone Therapy program uses micro-dose Naltrexone along with a tailored regimen of comfort medication to help patients detox safely and comfortably over the course of several days. Often, the program can be completed in as little as 3 days. Opioids are removed from the patient’s system quickly and gently, and after detox is over, long-acting Naltrexone is given as either an implant or an injection to help control cravings and greatly reduce the risk of relapse.

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