naltrexone

(nal TREX own)
ReVia

What is the most important information I should know about naltrexone?

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Naltrexone may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.

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Do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicine to treat a cold, cough, pain, or diarrhea while taking naltrexone without first talking to your doctor. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol.

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Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking naltrexone. 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.

What is naltrexone?

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Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist. Naltrexone blocks the effects of narcotic drugs and alcohol. Naltrexone blocks the "high" that is achieved by use of these substances

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Naltrexone is used in the treatment of narcotic drug or alcohol addiction..

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Naltrexone may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking naltrexone?

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Before taking naltrexone, talk to your doctor if you

have used alcohol or a narcotic drug within the past 7-10 days;

have drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms;

have kidney disease; or

have liver disease.

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You may not be able to take naltrexone, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

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Naltrexone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether naltrexone will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take naltrexone without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether naltrexone passes into breast milk. Do not take naltrexone without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take naltrexone?

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Take naltrexone exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each oral dose with a full glass of water.

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Take naloxone with food to decrease stomach upset.

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

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Your healthcare provider may recommend that naltrexone be administered by a family member, friend, or healthcare provider to ensure compliance with the treatment.

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

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Store naltrexone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of the medication.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose of naltrexone is suspected.

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Symptoms of a naltrexone overdose may be harmful.

What should I avoid while using naltrexone?

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Naltrexone may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.

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What are the possible side effects of naltrexone?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking naltrexone and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

blurred vision or eye problems;

fast heartbeats;

mood changes, hallucinations, or confusion;

abdominal pain, pale colored stools, dark colored urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (may indicate liver problems);

earache or ringing in the ears;

skin rash or itching; or

difficulty breathing.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take naltrexone and talk to your doctor if you experience

anxiety, nervousness, or restlessness;

irritability;

dizziness or lightheadedness;

nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

decreased appetite;

increased thirst;

muscle or joint aches;

weakness or tiredness;

insomnia; or

sexual problems.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect naltrexone?

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Do not take naltrexone with any of the following drugs without first talking to your doctor:

disulfiram (Antabuse);

thioridazine (Mellaril);

buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutrex);

codeine (Tylenol with Codeine, others);

hydrocodone (Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin, Vicoprofen, others);

hydromorphone (Dilaudid);

levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran);

meperidine (Demerol);

methadone (Dolophine, Methadose);

morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, OMS, Roxanol, Oramorph SR, others);

oxycodone (M-Oxy, OxyContin, OxyIR, Roxicodone, Percocet, Percodan, others);

oxymorphone (Numorphan); or

propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet, others).

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Taking naltrexone may be dangerous or cause side effects if taken with any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with naltrexone. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about naltrexone written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.