Rapid Approach Cuts XR Naltrexone Initiation Time By 50%

About 63% of people with active opioid use disorder (OUD) were able to start injectable extended release (XR) naltrexone within a week using a rapid initiation procedure. The standard initiation process takes 10 to 15 days, and at the end only 36% of people with active OUD successfully transitioned to XR naltrexone. Although the rapid procedure was as effective as the standard process at transitioning people to XR naltrexone, it was associated with a higher number of safety events and serious adverse events.

Use of XR naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, requires that the individual with active OUD gradually withdraw from . . .