Final answer:
Naloxone has a short elimination half-life, requiring parenteral administration and often multiple doses, making it suitable for rapid opioid-overdose reversal. Naltrexone has a long elimination half-life, is orally active, and can be given in once-daily doses for chronic therapy in narcotic treatment programs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between the elimination half-lives of naloxone and naltrexone is significant and impacts their use in medical treatments. Naloxone has a short elimination half-life, which means that it is rapidly cleared from the body. This requires it to be administered via a parenteral route (non-oral, such as intravenous or intramuscular injection) and may necessitate multiple doses. Due to its short half-life, naloxone is primarily used for immediate opioid overdose reversal, helping to keep individuals breathing until emergency medical treatment is available. In contrast, naltrexone is absorbed well orally and has a long elimination half-life, which allows it to be given in once-daily doses of 50 to 100 mg. This makes naltrexone suitable for chronic therapy in narcotic treatment programs, as it helps maintain individuals on consistent narcotic antagonism, reducing the effectiveness of subsequent opioid use.