Definition

A medication that blocks the effects of narcotic drugs and is used to treat addiction and overdose.

Example

The doctor prescribed naltrexone to help the patient recover from opioid addiction.

Conversation

Have you heard about naltrexone?

Yeah, I read it can help with addiction treatment.

Exactly! It's used to block the effects of narcotics.

That sounds really important for recovery.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Naltrexone is a synthetic compound, and its name is derived from the combination of 'nal-' (a prefix used in the naming of certain drugs) and 'trexone' (from the chemical structure related to the opioid antagonist properties). The 'nal-' prefix is often associated with narcotic antagonists, while 'trexone' is derived from 'oxymorphone', indicating its relation to opioid receptors. Thus, naltrexone refers to a drug that acts against the effects of narcotics.

Memory Tip

Think of 'nal-' as a signal for a drug that works against narcotics, and 'trexone' as part of its chemical structure that helps block opioid effects.

Visually Confused Words