Naltrexone: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Naltrexone?

What is naltrexone for?

Naltrexone is a drug used to prevent people who have been addicted to certain drugs (opiates) from taking them again. It is used as part of a complete treatment program for drug abuse (eg, adherence monitoring, counseling, behavioral contracts, lifestyle changes). This medicine should not be used in people who are currently taking opiates, including methadone. If taken together with opiate drugs it can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. It acts on the brain to prevent the effects of opiates (eg, feelings of well-being, pain). It also reduces the urge to take opiates.

This drug is also used to treat alcohol abuse. This medication can help to reduce alcohol consumption or completely stop drinking alcohol. This drug also reduces the desire to consume alcohol when used with a treatment program that includes counseling, support, and lifestyle changes.

How do you use naltrexone?

Take this medication directly with or without food, usually 50 milligrams per day or as directed by your doctor. This medication may be given as part of a program in which a health care professional will supervise you for taking the medication. In this case, your doctor may ask you to take a higher dose (100-150 milligrams) every 2-3 days to make it easier to schedule a clinic visit. Naltrexone can be taken with food or antacids if stomach upset occurs.

A urine test should be done to check for recent opiate drug use. Your doctor may give you another drug (a naloxone test challenge) to check for opiate use. Do not use opiates for at least 7 days before starting naltrexone. You may need to stop certain opiates (such as methadone) 10 to 14 days before taking naltrexone.

The dosage for use of this drug is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Your doctor may start you with a low dose of medication and monitor you for side effects or withdrawal symptoms before increasing your dose. Take this medication as directed. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or stop taking this drug without your doctor's approval.

Take this medicine regularly for the best benefits. To help you remember, consume it at the same time every day.

tell your doctor if you re-start taking other drugs or alcohol.

How to store naltrexone?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Naltrexone dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of naltrexone for adults?

Adult Dose for Alcohol Dependence

Swallow Tablets:
50 mg once a day
Extended injection suspension:
380 mg every 4 weeks (or once a month) by intramuscular gluteal injection, on the opposite side of the buttocks.

Adult Dose for Opiate Dependence

Treatment should not be undertaken unless the patient remains opioid-free for at least 7 to 10 days. Opioid abstinence should be verified by urine analysis for the absence of opioids. The patient should not show signs of withdrawal or report symptoms of withdrawal. If you have questions about occult opioid dependence, take a naloxone challenge test and do not start naltrexone therapy until the naloxone challenge is negative. The naloxone challenge test should not be performed in patients who show signs or clinical symptoms of opioid withdrawal, or whose urine contains opioids. The naloxone challenge can be repeated in 24 hours.

Initial dose: 25 mg once.
Maintenance dose: If no signs of withdrawal occur, it can be started with 50 mg once daily.
Alternative dosage schedule: (to increase suitability) 50 mg on weekends and 100 mg on Saturdays or 100 mg every other day or 150 mg every three days.

Prolonged injection suspension: 380 mg every 4 weeks (or once a month) by intramuscular gluteal injection, on alternating sides of the buttocks.

What is the dose of naltrexone for children?

The dosage for children has not been determined. Consult your doctor for more information.

In what dosage is naltrexone available?

Tablet, oral: 50 mg.

Naltrexone side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to naltrexone?

Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Naltrexone and call your doctor if you experience any of the following side effects:

• blurred vision or eye problems
• fast heart rate
• mood changes, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things), confusion, thoughts of hurting yourself
• nausea, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• earache, buzzing in your ear
• rash, or itching or
• sneezing, trouble breathing.

Less serious side effects such as:

• feeling anxious, nervous, restless, irritable
• head feels light, passed out
• thirst increases
• muscle or joint pain
• weak or tired
• sleep problems (insomnia), or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Naltrexone Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using naltrexone?

Before using naltrexone

• • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to naltrexone naloxone, any other opioid drug, or any other medication
  • tell your doctor if you are taking other opioid (narcotic) drugs or other over-the-counter drugs including evomethadyl acetate (LAAM, ORLAAM) or methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) and some medicines for diarrhea, cough or pain. And also tell your doctor if you took any of these medicines in the past 7 or 10 days. Ask your doctor if you are unsure if the medication you are taking previously is an opioid. Your doctor may ask you to take some tests to see if you took opioid drugs or only took over-the-counter opioids for the past 7 or 10 days. Your doctor will ask you not to take naltrexone if you have taken or used opioids for the past 7 or 10 days.
  • do not take opioid drugs or use over-the-counter opioids during treatment with naltrexone. Naltrexone inhibits the effects of opioid and opioid drugs. You may not feel the effects of this substance if you take it at low or normal doses. If you take or use a higher dose of the opioid during treatment with naltrexone, this can cause serious injury, coma (prolonged unconsciousness), or death.
  • if you used opioid medicines prior to treatment with naltrexone, you may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug after treatment is complete. After the test is complete, tell your doctor that you have used naltrexone.
  • tell your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter drugs and vitamins and nutritional supplements and other herbal products that you are taking or planning to take. Make sure you mention disulfiram (antabuse) and thioridazine. Your doctor may have to change the dose of your medication or monitor you closely for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression or stomach problems
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking naltrexone, call your doctor
  • if you need medical or surgical treatment, including dental surgery, tell your dentist that you are taking naltrexone. Use or carry medical identification with you so that the healthcare providers treating you in the emergency room can find out that you are taking naltrexone.

• You should know that people who consume excessive drugs or alcohol often become depressed and several times try to harm or kill themselves. Taking naltrexone does not reduce the risk that you will harm yourself. You or your family should contact your doctor if you experience symptoms of depression such as grief, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, unworthiness, helplessness or thinking of harming or killing yourself or planning to do so. Make sure your family knows that the symptoms can be so severe that they will call your doctor right away if you can't take care of yourself.

Is naltrexone safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women?

There is no adequate research into the risks of using this drug in pregnant or nursing women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medicine. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

It is not known whether this drug can pass through breast milk and whether it is dangerous if taken in breast milk by a baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Naltrexone Drug Interactions

What medicines might interact with naltrexone?

Drug interactions can change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / over-the-counter medicines and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

The pain-relieving effects of any narcotic pain medication you take will be hindered if you use them during your treatment with oral naltrexone. Dangerous side effects can also occur.

Before using naltrexone, you should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex)
• butorphanol (Stadol)
• codeine (Tylenol with codeine)
• hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin)
• dezocine (Dalgan)
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• levorphanol (Levo-Dromorant)
• meperidine (Demerol)
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Roxanol)
• nalbuphine (Nubain)
• nalmefene (Revex)
• naloxone (Narcan)
• oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone, Percocet)
• oxymorphone (Numorphan)
• propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet)

Can food or alcohol interact with naltrexone?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with naltrexone?

The presence of other medical problems can affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially

• depression, or a history of depression
• mental illness, or a history of mental illness - use with caution. It might make things worse.
• failing a naloxone challenge test (a medical test to check your dependence on opioid drugs)
• opioid withdrawal, acute
• positive urine test for opioids
• receiving opioid analgesics (eg, buprenorphine, methadone, morphine) - should not be used in patients with this condition
• Kidney illness
• liver disease (including cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C) - use with caution. The effect can be increased due to slower elimination of the drug from the body.

Naltrexone overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, or seizures (convulsions).

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.