WHY LONG ACTING IMPLANTS... ???

… “ I live in …, and as you know, a number of people, friends of mine, have done the implant at your clinic in Lisbon. I see that most of them are clean only as long as the implant is effective… I am for the first time, after numerous attempts that failed, really motivated to quit using heroin. I have made up my mind, and I will stick to my decision! An implant would make a start, which is the most difficult part, so much easier. But, I am aware that the real struggle starts when the implant doesn’t work anymore and it all is about my own strength…I am interested in an implant that lasts and helps me to stay clean... "

This email I received not long ago reveals what the majority of people feels and thinks. But, the real struggle is... when the pellet wears off. But, fortunately real new things are available, protecting against the relapse for many months and those are the 6 or 12 months implants, which is the time mostly of the addicts need to ...cleaning up the closet...

Some questions:


Naltrexone blood levels and the liver
Mostly of the questions relating are relationed with eventual secondary effects at the liver, and something must be cleared up. The highest naltrexone doses are achieved by the oral intake. Two months NTX implants have a much lower level and, still lower in the 6 or 12 months implants, but always neutralizing.
That means that, even, instant oral doses of 250 mg, of NTX, or higher, taken for some time don't harm the liver, so low daily doses (which is what happens with the slow releasing implants) don't harm nothing.

Allergy
There are no allergies to the substance - naltrexone, and are very rare allergies to the implant, made of a biodegradable polylactic based polymer, which minimizes local tissue reactions (but, the swelling and redness, if they arise may be due to some kind of infection and must be reported to be treated.