What is Naltrexone? Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Risk

Naltrexone is one component of a comprehensive treatment plan, which includes counseling and other behavioral health therapies to provide patients with a whole-person approach. Naltrexone is not a recommended option for anyone younger than 18 years of age, or for patients experiencing other health conditions. You may feel nauseated the first time you receive an injection of this medicine. You may also have a headache, tiredness, joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Opioid Overdose Reversal Medications

For some, this can feel like nothing short of a miracle—especially for those who struggle with cravings in recovery, or wish they could still have a drink from time to time. Abstinence is not required – you can drink on naltrexone. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery or perform any dangerous activities until you know how naltrexone will affect you. Naltrexone may cause ween off alcohol dizziness and drowsiness and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Do not drive or perform any kind of hazardous tasks if naltrexone causes you any dizziness or other dangerous side effects.

Before taking this medicine

Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label.

Practitioners should continue to monitor patients who are no longer taking naltrexone. Naltrexone is not an opioid, is not addictive, and does not cause withdrawal symptoms with stop of use. Naltrexone blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids such as heroin, morphine, and codeine.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). Taking 25 mg of naltrexone is not considered an effective dose for AUD and has not been well studied. To learn more about some of the key reasons you may not be familiar with medication-assisted treatment for AUD, see the Reference Library section below.

It is recognized as the standard treatment for alcohol dependence in several European countries. Naltrexone is known to be more effective when taken as part of a holistic program that includes mixing alcohol and suboxone recovery coaching and counseling. It is important to address the root causes of your drinking and develop healthy habits and coping mechanisms. That said, up to 10 percent of people will experience stronger side effects, including what some describe as an odd feeling of intoxication, and/or more persistent digestive issues. These individuals may need to take a different medication to control their alcohol use.

Related support groups

Patients should notify their practitioner about all medications they are currently taking as well as any changes in medications while being treated with naltrexone. After taking this medicine, 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 the naltrexone treatment. Using the same amount of opioids you used before could lead to overdose or death.

Naltrexone will not make you feel sick or ill in the same way that Antabuse (disulfiram) does when you drink alcohol with it. Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company. Lab and/or medical tests (such as liver function) should be done while you are taking this medication.

This medication is used to substance use group activities prevent people who have been addicted to certain drugs (opiates) from taking them again. It is used as part of a complete treatment program for drug abuse (such as compliance monitoring, counseling, behavioral contract, lifestyle changes). This medication must not be used in people currently taking opiates, including methadone. Doing so can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms.Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. It works in the brain to prevent opiate effects (such as feelings of well-being, pain relief).

However, by breaking this learned connection in your brain between drinking and pleasure, it can help you to stop drinking. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Some people are able to control their drinking on their own with just the help of naltrexone. However, it’s best to use naltrexone as part of a comprehensive plan for medication-assisted treatment that includes counseling, therapy, a 12-step program, or other support. Naltrexone binds to the endorphin receptors in the body, and blocks the effects and feelings of alcohol. Naltrexone reduces alcohol cravings and the amount of alcohol consumed. Once a patient stops drinking, taking naltrexone helps patients maintain their sobriety.

1. Exact success rates vary, but the Sinclair Method, which uses naltrexone, has a 78 percent success rate.
2. Naltrexone is one component of a comprehensive treatment plan, which includes counseling and other behavioral health therapies to provide patients with a whole-person approach.
3. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.
4. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how this medication affects you.
5. This is one of the reasons why it can be a great treatment option.

One patient commented that he poured half his glass of wine down the sink the first time he drank on naltrexone. However, most report that alcohol feels different, and they feel less motivated to drink it. Once naltrexone is in your system, as discussed above, it will block the endorphin rush from drinking alcohol. So, for example, if you plan to go out for the evening, you could take naltrexone one hour before you expect to have your first drink. It can lessen the enjoyment that people derive from drinking, as you don’t feel the “buzz” that is linked to enjoyment with drinking.

After taking a tablet and having your first drink, the typical “buzz” may not arrive. Without the “reward” you usually get from drinking, your craving for another drink may diminish. Naltrexone is usually taken as a tablet or as a monthly injection. The tablet (sold as ReVia or generically) is either taken once daily or taken one hour before drinking (as per the Sinclair Method). The injection (Vivitrol) only needs to be taken once per month.

Trying to overcome this block is very dangerous and may cause serious injury, loss of consciousness, and death. Make sure you completely understand and accept the risks and benefits of using this medication. Naltrexone is an effective prescription medication used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). Numerous studies have found naltrexone reduces heavy drinking, frequency of drinking, cravings for alcohol, and alcohol relapse.

Naltrexone causes withdrawal symptoms in people who are using opioids. Remember that use of naltrexone is only part of your treatment. Be sure that you follow all of your healthcare provider’s orders, including seeing your therapist and/or attending support group meetings on a regular basis. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking illegal or recreational drugs while taking naltrexone. Medicines that interact with naltrexone may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with naltrexone. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does.