If your dose is different, do not change it naltrexone side effects unless your doctor tells you to do so. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. For it to be effective, it needs to be taken consistently, ideally at the same time each day. Some people choose to take it in the morning, while others prefer the evening—it all depends on your routine and when you’re most likely to experience cravings.
Important Safety Information
This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. Make sure your healthcare provider knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless.
Treatments
- Your doctor may lower your naltrexone dosage if your liver or kidneys aren’t functioning well.
- It depends on how light or heavy your drinking is, and your unique brain chemistry.
- Real patient taking CONTRAVE at the time of his interview and compensated for sharing his inspiring story.
- RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
A clinical review of opiate use is mandatory, and opiate-drug screening should be considered before naltrexone is prescribed. Patients with an anticipated future need for opiates (such as those expecting to undergo elective surgery) may not be good candidates for naltrexone. Oral naltrexone must be stopped 48 to 72 hours before opiate analgesia. For patients receiving injectable naltrexone, opiate blockade may last for a month or more. An earlier 2016 meta-analysis also supported naltrexone as a pharmacotherapy treatment for AUD.
- 💡 This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
- A 2010 study specifically on non-abstainers showed promising results.
- Because naltrexone isn’t used for weight loss, the drug manufacturer doesn’t provide recommended dosages for this use.
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For resources related to AUD, including how to get support, please visit the NIH website. We’ve also partnered with Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol. Sunnyside is a full-featured mindful drinking app, and thus the perfect companion for your Naltrexone journey.
- Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body.
- Your healthcare provider will guide you through a safe and supported process before beginning treatment.
- Founded by someone who has walked the path of AUD himself, Oar Health is built on a foundation of empathy, understanding, and a commitment to making treatment accessible.
- If the patient becomes completely abstinent during the last several months of treatment, naltrexone can be stopped, and monthly monitoring should continue during the next 4 to 6 months.
- While naltrexone helps manage AUD, there may be a risk of falling back to old habits once you stop.
Some weight-loss pills reduce fat absorption, while other weight-loss pills, like CONTRAVE, can help control hunger and cravings. If Halfway house you’re struggling to lose weight and find it hard to manage hunger and cravings, CONTRAVE may help. Jennifer, a mammographer from Billings, Montana, had always focused on caring for others. But after menopause led to steady weight gain and constant cravings, she knew it was time to prioritize her own health. Brian’s journey included numerous diets, exercise, and trying a GLP-1 medication before he found CONTRAVE.
