It is very important that your healthcare provider check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your healthcare provider to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Naltrexone is available as an intramuscular injection (Vivitrol) and as oral tablets. The branded tablets (Revia, Depade) have been discontinued, but generic versions are available. Taking 25 mg of naltrexone is not considered an effective dose for AUD and has not been well studied. To learn more about some of the key reasons you may not be familiar with medication-assisted treatment for AUD, see the Reference Library section below.
This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Naltrexone is a form of medication-assisted treatment that is often used to help reduce cravings and aid in someone’s recovery from addiction. Combining Naltrexone and alcohol can present certain issues, and experts claim that the use of Naltrexone ought to be used in tandem with abstinence. Learn more about this unique medication and how it can help aid you in your recovery below. This is not all the information you need to know about naltrexone for safe and effective use.
Response and effectiveness
- That said, some people may find taking 25 mg of naltrexone lowers the risk of side effects and still helps control or eliminate drinking.
- You should refer to the prescribing information for naltrexone for a complete list of interactions.
- Naltrexone treatment is started after you are no longer taking opioids for a period of time.
- Naltrexone is an effective option both for people who want to stop drinking entirely and those who just want to drink less.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become what are whipits pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take naltrexone while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific naltrexone products they stock.
The pill form is taken daily and the extended-release injectable is administered every four weeks, or once a month, by a practitioner. Naltrexone will cause withdrawal symptoms in people who are no longer taking opioids for a period of time. Naltrexone treatment is started after you are no longer taking opioids for a period of time.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Carry written alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone function information with you at all times to alert healthcare providers that you are taking this medication so that they can treat you properly in an emergency.
Naltrexone – Uses, Side Effects, and More
Naltrexone is considered to have no abuse potential and does not result in the development of physical dependence. An individual must obtain a prescription in order to legally obtain it, and the medication is typically used in situations where individuals are actively recovering from alcohol use disorders or opiate abuse. You should not be actively drinking at the time you start naltrexone treatment for alcohol use disorder. Some people are able to control their drinking on their own with just the help of naltrexone. However, it’s best to use naltrexone as part of a comprehensive plan for medication-assisted treatment that includes counseling, therapy, a 12-step program, or other support. Naltrexone comes as a tablet to take by mouth either at home or under supervision in a clinic or treatment center.
What are the side effects of naltrexone?
Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Remember that use of naltrexone is only part of your treatment. Be sure that you follow all of your healthcare provider’s orders, including seeing your therapist and/or attending support group meetings on a regular basis. You may feel nauseated the first time you receive an injection of this medicine.
Other Interactions
In case of an emergency, people using naltrexone should carry an identification card stating that they are on naltrexone. Talk to your physician for guidance, or for more information on the safe disposal of unused medications, visit FDA’s disposal of unused medicines or DEA’s drug disposal webpages. Patients should tell family and the people they are closest to about the increased sensitivity to opioids and the risk of overdose. For more information, patients should talk to their practitioner or pharmacist. Patients should tell their practitioner about any side effects that are bothersome or do not go away. While the oral formulation will also block opioid receptors, only the long-acting injectable formulation is FDA approved as a medication for OUD.
Let your healthcare provider know if you or anyone in your family has tried to commit suicide. You will need to stop using opioids for at least 7 to 10 days before you can start taking naltrexone. Your healthcare provider may need to do the naloxone challenge test or a urine test for opioids to make sure you are opioid-free. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be cymbalta and alcohol required in some cases. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, attempted suicide, or other mental health disorders before you start treatment.