Naltrexone (Systemic)

Brand Names : ReVia

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For naltrexone, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to naltrexone. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Naltrexone has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that naltrexone causes unwanted effects when given in very large doses. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether naltrexone passes into the breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Naltrexone has been tested only in adult patients and there is no specific information about its use in patients up to 18 years of age.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of naltrexone in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking naltrexone, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Opioid (Narcotic) analgesics (e.g., butorphanol [e.g., Stadol], codeine, hydrocodone [e.g., Hycodan], hydromorphone [e.g., Dilaudid], levorphanol [e.g., Levo-Dromoran], meperidine [e.g., Demerol], methadone [e.g., Dolophine], morphine [e.g., MSIR], nalbuphine [e.g., Nubain], oxycodone [e.g., Roxicodone], propoxyphene [e.g., Darvon]) or
• Opioid-containing medications, other - The effects of these medications may be blocked by naltrexone. Alternative medications for relief of pain should be used in patients receiving naltrexone. Naltrexone may cause withdrawal in patients dependent on narcotics.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of naltrexone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Hepatitis or other liver disease - The chance of side effects may be increased