Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. This medication may be sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Some patients may experience mood changes, including increased depression or anxiety. Many side effects of Naltrexone can be managed with simple lifestyle adjustments or over-the-counter remedies.

Liver Toxicity

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). It works as an opioid antagonist that occupies opioid receptors in the brain. This blocks the sedative and euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids. Naltrexone injection is used along with counseling and social support to help people who have stopped drinking large amounts of alcohol to avoid drinking again. Naltrexone injection should not be used to treat people who are still drinking alcohol, people who are still using opiates or street drugs, or people who have used opiates within the past 10 days. Naltrexone is in a class of medications called drug addiction treatment opiate antagonists.

Supporting a Loved One During Naltrexone Program

Check with your healthcare provider right away if you have chest pain, dry cough, fever, general feeling of tiredness or weakness, rapid breathing, skin rash, or trouble breathing. These may be symptoms of a lung problem called eosinophilic pneumonia. If you are struggling with addiction, specifically opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder, naltrexone can help you reduce cravings and cut back on misuse. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids, including heroin or opioid pain medicines.

• The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
• It should only be started after detoxing from opioids or alcohol to avoid withdrawal.
• For example, alcohol consumption or other substances interacting negatively with the medication.
• These gender-related differences underscore the need for tailored approaches in naltrexone therapy.

Vivitrol (naltrexone) – Uses, Side Effects, and More

• As a result of the greater neurophysiological modulation facilitated by a high dose, side effects often increase in number and often severity.
• If it’s your first time hearing about naltrexone or medication as a treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder, you’re not alone.
• If you don’t know whether you’ve been taking an opioid-containing medication, you can ask your doctor to check.

For opioid dependence, treatment should be initiated with an initial dose of 25 mg of Naltrexone Hydrochloride tablets. Other medical conditions such as those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and various autoimmune disorders may be at increased risk of side effects – especially at higher doses. This is because naltrexone may decrease autoimmunity, which in turn upregulates production of endogenous thyroid, and decreases need for exogenous thyroid medications. Patients concurrently administering thyroid medications may experience side effects while taking naltrexone as a result of excess thyroid (or hyperthyroidism).

It works in the brain to prevent opiate effects (e.g., feelings of well-being, pain relief). It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. Naltrexone has been shown to increase the incidence of early fetal loss in high doses in animal studies. There are no adequate or well-controlled studies of naltrexone in pregnant women.

Allergic reaction

Although naltrexone hydrochloride is a potentantagonist, the blockade produced by naltrexone hydrochloride is surmountable. The plasmaconcentration of exogenous opioids attained immediately following their acute administration may besufficient to overcome the competitive receptor blockade. This poses a potential risk to individualswho attempt, on their own, to overcome the blockade by administering large amounts of exogenousopioids. Any attempt by a patient to overcome the antagonism by taking opioids is especially dangerousand may lead to life-threatening opioid intoxication or fatal overdose. Patients should be told of theserious consequences of trying to overcome the opioid blockade (see PATIENT https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/naltrexone-side-effects-uses-and-risks/ INFORMATION).

Anxiety Medication Addiction

Before starting a treatment program with Naltrexone, patients must list any medications they are using, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies. While the oral form of Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors, only the long-acting injectable formulation is FDA approved for opioid addiction. The following list includes just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took naltrexone in clinical trials. These side effects vary depending on which condition the drug is being used to treat. This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions.