Naltrexone Information:

What is Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is an special narcotic drug that blocks the effects of other narcotic medicines and alcohol. It is used to treat narcotic drug or alcohol addiction. This drug may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about naltrexone

Your doctor may recommend that naltrexone oral be given to you by a family member or other caregiver. This is to make sure you are using the medicine as it was prescribed as part of your treatment.

Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking naltrexone oral. Never try to overcome the effects of the medication by taking large doses of narcotic drugs or alcohol. Doing so could result in dangerous effects, including coma and death. Ask your doctor before using any prescription or over-the-counter medicine to treat a cold, cough, diarrhea, or pain while taking naltrexone oral. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol. Naltrexone oral can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using this drug?

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to naltrexone, or if you have:

• an addiction to narcotics;
• a history of alcohol or narcotic drug use within the past 7-10 days; or
• drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Before taking naltrexone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease; or
• a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia (if you are using naltrexone oral injection).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

Naltrexone is in pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether naltrexone oral passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How to take Naltrexone?

Use naltrexone oral exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take the naltrexone oral tablet with a full glass of water. You may take the naltrexone oral tablet with food to decrease stomach upset.

It is important to take naltrexone oral regularly to get the most benefit.

Your doctor may recommend that naltrexone oral be given to you by a family member or other caregiver. This is to make sure you are using the medicine as it was prescribed as part of your treatment.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are using naltrexone, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are using this medication.

Additional forms of counseling and/or monitoring may be recommended during treatment with naltrexone oral.

Store naltrexone oral tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Missed dose

Take the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while using this medicine?

Naltrexone oral can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking naltrexone oral. Never try to overcome the effects of the medication by taking large doses of narcotic drugs or alcohol. Doing so could result in dangerous effects, including coma and death. Ask your doctor before using any prescription or over-the-counter medicine to treat a cold, cough, diarrhea, or pain while taking naltrexone oral. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol.

Possible side effects of Naltrexone

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using naltrexone oral and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• blurred vision or eye problems;
• fast heartbeat;
• mood changes, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things), confusion, thoughts of hurting yourself;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• ear pain, ringing in your ears;
• skin rash or itching; or
• wheezing, difficulty breathing.

Less serious side effects may include:

• feeling anxious, nervous, restless, or irritable;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• increased thirst;
• muscle or joint aches;
• weakness or tiredness;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Naltrexone Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Alcohol Dependence:

Oral Tablets:
50 mg orally once a day

Usual Adult Dose for Opiate Dependence:

Treatment should not be attempted unless the patient has remained opioid- free for at least 7 to 10 days. Opioid abstinence should be verified by analysis of urine for absence of opioids. The patient should not be manifesting withdrawal signs or reporting withdrawal symptoms. If there is any question of occult opioid dependence, perform a naloxone challenge test and do not initiate naltrexone therapy until the naloxone challenge is negative. The naloxone challenge test should not be performed in a patient showing clinical signs or symptoms of opioid withdrawal, or whose urine contains opioids. The naloxone challenge can be repeated in 24 hours.

Initial dose: 25 mg orally one time.
Maintenance dose: If no withdrawal signs occur, 50 mg orally once a day may be started.
Alternative dose schedules: (to improve compliance) 50 mg orally on week days and 100 mg orally on Saturday; or 100 mg orally every other day; or 150 mg orally every third day.

What other drugs will affect naltrexone?

The pain-relieving effects of any narcotic pain medications you use will be blocked if you use them during your treatment with naltrexone oral. Harmful side effects could also occur.

Before using naltrexone, tell your doctor if you use any of the following drugs:

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

This list it not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with naltrexone oral. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

This article is for informational purposes only. For further instructions on Naltrexone consult with your doctor.