What is naltrexone?
Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioid medication, including pain relief or feelings of well-being that can lead to opioid abuse. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Naltrexone is used as part of a treatment program for drug or alcohol dependence.
Naltrexone is used to prevent relapse in people who became dependent on opioid medicine and then stopped using it. Naltrexone can help keep you from feeling a "need" to use the opioid.
Naltrexone is also used to treat alcoholism by reducing your urge to drink alcohol. This may help you drink less or stop drinking completely. Naltrexone will not cause you to "sober up" and will not decrease the effects of alcohol you recently consumed.
Naltrexone is not a cure for drug addiction or alcoholism.
Naltrexone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important Information
You should not use naltrexone if you are having drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or if you have taken any opioid medicine within the past 2 weeks.
Before taking this medicine
Do not take naltrexone if you still use opioid medicine, or you could have sudden and severe withdrawal symptoms.
You should not use naltrexone if you are allergic to it, or if:
- you are having withdrawal symptoms from drug or alcohol addiction;
- you have used any opioid medicine within the past 10 days (including fentanyl, Vicodin, OxyContin, and many others); or
- you have used methadone or buprenorphine (Subutex, Butrans, Suboxone, Zubsolv) in the past 14 days.
To make sure naltrexone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease; or
- a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder such as hemophilia.
It is not known whether naltrexone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Naltrexone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Naltrexone is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I use naltrexone?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Your doctor may recommend that naltrexone 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.
Take the naltrexone tablet with a full glass of water.
Naltrexone may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach.
Use naltrexone regularly to get the most benefit.
Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you use naltrexone. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you are using this medicine. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking naltrexone.
Naltrexone is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include additional forms of counseling and/or monitoring. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
After taking naltrexone, your body will be more sensitive to opioids. If you use an opioid medicine in the future, you will need to use less than before naltrexone treatment. Using the same amount you used before could lead to overdose or death.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. If you have opioid medicine in your system, an overdose of naltrexone could stimulate opioid withdrawal symptoms.
What should I avoid while using naltrexone?
Do not use narcotic medication, heroin, or other street drugs while you are taking naltrexone. Never try to overcome the effects of naltrexone by taking large doses of opioids. Doing so could result in dangerous effects, including coma and death.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking naltrexone.
Ask your doctor before using any medicine to treat a cold, cough, diarrhea, or pain. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol.
Naltrexone may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Naltrexone side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Using opioid medicine while you are taking naltrexone could stimulate opioid withdrawal symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms are yawning, irritability, sweating, fever, chills, shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, watery eyes, runny nose, goose bumps, body aches, trouble sleeping, and feeling restless.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
- mood changes, confusion, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things);
- depression, thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself; or
- liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
- headache, dizziness, drowsiness;
- feeling anxious or nervous;
- sleep problems (insomnia); or
- muscle or joint aches.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also:
Naltrexone side effects (in more detail)
Naltrexone dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Alcohol Dependence:
Oral:
Average dose: 50 mg orally once a day
Duration of therapy: 12 weeks
Intramuscular:
380 mg intramuscularly every 4 weeks/once a month
Comments:
-There is no data specifically addressing switching from buprenorphine or methadone to naltrexone, however some patients have reported severe manifestations of precipitated withdrawal when switched from an opioid agonist to opioid antagonist therapy.
-Patients switching from buprenorphine or methadone may be vulnerable to precipitated withdrawal for up to 2 weeks.
-Be prepared to manage withdrawal symptomatically with non-opioid medications.
-To achieve best possible results, implement compliance-enhancing techniques, especially medication compliance
Usual Adult Dose for Opiate Dependence:
Oral:
Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 50 mg orally once a day (if no withdrawals on 25 mg/day)
Intramuscular:
380 mg intramuscularly every 4 weeks/once a month
Comments:
-There is no data specifically addressing switching from buprenorphine or methadone to naltrexone, however some patients have reported severe manifestations of precipitated withdrawal when switched from an opioid agonist to opioid antagonist therapy.
-Patients switching from buprenorphine or methadone may be vulnerable to precipitated withdrawal for up to 2 weeks.
-Be prepared to manage withdrawal symptomatically with non-opioid medications.
-This drug is of value only as a part of a comprehensive management plan that includes measures to ensure the patient takes this medication.
Use(s): Blockade of the effects of exogenously administered opioids
What other drugs will affect naltrexone?
Naltrexone will block the effects of any narcotic medicines you take (such as prescription medicine for pain, cough, or diarrhea). Harmful side effects could also occur.
Other drugs may interact with naltrexone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
See also:
Naltrexone drug interactions (in more detail)
Further information
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.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
