Naltrexone belongs to a group of medications referred to as pure opioid antagonists. It is accustomed to help folks who were previously dependent upon drugs of addiction (such as alcohol, or opiate drugs including methadone and heroin) to remain free of their dependence.
Opiate drugs (also known as opioid drugs) and opioids which might be naturally section of the body affect certain parts from the brain called opiate receptors. Naltrexone functions binding to these opiate receptors to block the end results of opiates drugs and also the body's own opiates. It is thought that this helps prevent a person from going back to using these substances.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions apart from those placed in these drug information articles. As well, some forms of medicines might not be useful for all from the conditions discussed here. If have not discussed this along with your doctor or are certainly not sure your purpose in taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without talking to a medical expert.
Do not give medicines to someone else, even if they've the identical symptoms as you do. It might be harmful for those to consider this medication if their doctor have not prescribed it.
The dose of prescription drugs depends on the type of dependence it really is being employed to treat, and whether administration from the medication will be supervised.
To treat alcoholism, the most common recommended dose is 50 mg once daily.
To treat opioid dependence (e.g., addiction to methadone or heroin), the dose will vary but the usual starting dose is 25 mg once daily, to get slowly increased towards the best suited dose.
Your doctor will determine a dose and dosing diary for your very own situation. It is important that you adopt medicines exactly as prescribed by your medical professional.
Your doctor may request a urine sample before initiating treatment with this medication so as to make certain you've not used any narcotics (opioid drugs) from the previous 7 to 10 days. You should not take this medication if you have any possibility you have used an opiate inside the previous 7 to 10 days. If there is any question about your opiate use, a medical expert may request that you are taking a NARCAN challenge test in order to confirm that your system is opiate-free before you are taking medicines.
If you miss a dose, go on it as soon as possible and continue along with your regular schedule. If it really is almost time for your upcoming dose, skip the missed dose and continue together with your regular dosing schedule. Do not require a double dose to generate up for any missed one. If you usually are not sure what direction to go after missing a dose, contact your medical professional or pharmacist for advice.
Store prescription drugs at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and make it out of the reach of kids.
Do not dump medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or perhaps the bathroom .) or perhaps household garbage. Ask your friendly phamacist the way to dump medications which are no more needed or have expired.
Many medications could cause side effects. A side effect can be an unwanted reply to a medication when it's drawn in normal doses. Side effects might be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The unwanted side effects listed below aren't seen by everyone who takes prescription drugs. If you are concerned with side effects, discuss the risks and advantages of this medication along with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of folks taking prescription drugs. Many of these unwanted side effects could be managed, and a few may go away on their own over time.
Contact a medical expert if you experience these side effects and they're severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to counsel you on managing unwanted side effects.
Do not take naltrexone if you:
There might be an interaction between naltrexone and then for any of the following:
If you might be taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending in your specific circumstances, your medical professional may want you to:
An interaction between two medications doesn't imply that you just must stop taking one too. Speak to your physician regarding how any drug interactions are now being managed or ought to be managed.
Medications besides those listed above may interact with prescription drugs. Tell a medical expert or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you're taking. Also tell them about any supplements you are taking. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can impact the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know in the event you use them.
Before you commence taking a drugs, make sure to inform your doctor from a health concerns or allergies you might have, any medications you're taking, whether you might be pregnant or breast-feeding, and then any other significant details of your overall health. These factors may affect the method that you should take medicines.
Accidental ingestion: If you might be dependent on narcotics so you accidentally ingest prescription drugs, you may experience severe signs and symptoms of withdrawal including confusion, nausea, shakiness, sweating, anxiety, visual hallucinations, vomiting, or diarrhea. Do not give medicines to anyone else, especially people who find themselves dependent upon opiate drugs.
Alcohol: You should not drink alcohol while investing in this, medication because this could damage your liver.
Interference with opiate-containing mediations: Because prescription drugs operates by blocking the end results of opiates, it might hinder other medications which contain opiates including certain cough and cold medications, antidarrheal medications, and some analgesics (pain medications). Talk to a medical expert or pharmacist about non-opiate containing alternatives.
Kidney function: If you've reduced kidney function your medical professional may lessen your dose of prescription drugs. Your doctor can also request that you've regular kidney function tests while you happen to be taking this medication.
Liver function: Naltrexone can cause liver injury. If you have reduced liver function your medical professional may decrease your dose of this medication. Your doctor may also request that you have regular liver function tests while you're taking medicines.
Overdose: If you accidentally overdose on this medication, seek medical attention immediately.
Suicide: People with drug abuse problems are in a higher risk of suicide. The use of naltrexone won't lower this risk.
Taking opioid drugs: If you try to overcome the blocking outcomes of naltrexone through opiates, this will likely cause breathing difficulties and death. Do not take opiates while you're on prescription drugs. Furthermore, you could be more responsive to lower doses of opiates after treatment with naltrexone. A smaller dose than any other time used might be required to achieve a similar effect.
Treatment of alcohol dependence: The use of naltrexone to the treatment of alcohol dependence just has been studied for any dosage regimen of 50 mg once daily for about 12 weeks. The efficacy of naltrexone beyond 12 weeks on this inhabitants are not known.
Pregnancy: This medication mustn't be used in pregnancy unless the huge benefits outweigh the potential for loss. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if naltrexone passes into breast milk. If you might be a breast-feeding mother and consider prescription drugs, it might affect your baby. Talk to your physician about whether you need to continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness utilizing prescription drugs have not been established for children below 18 years.
Airmail: 2-3 business weeks
EMS: 3-8 business days