Introduction:
This blog talks about naltrexone, a medicine for people struggling with addiction to opioids or alcohol. It works differently from opioids because it doesn’t make you feel high or addicted. Instead, it stops you from feeling good when you use opioids or alcohol, which might help you want them less. The blog says it’s important to start using naltrexone only after you’ve stopped using opioids to avoid feeling sick. It also warns against using opioids, alcohol, or certain drugs while on naltrexone to avoid harm, especially to your liver.
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) usually doesn’t cause big problems, but sometimes you might have a bad reaction, like an allergy. Doctors say it’s best to stop using opioids and alcohol for about a week before starting LDN to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Also, avoid certain medicines that have opioids or alcohol in them, like painkillers and cough medicines, to make sure LDN works well for you.
We’ll discuss these topics in this blog:
- What is the purpose of naltrexone?
- With naltrexone, which opioids should I stay away from?
- How can I take naltrexone if I miss a dose?
- What to Avoid When Taking Low-Dose Naltrexone
- Side Effects of Low-Dose Naltrexone
- conclusion
- Faq’s
What is the purpose of naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a medicine used to help people who have problems with opioids or alcohol. It’s not like opioids because it doesn’t make you feel high or get you addicted. Instead, it blocks the good feelings you get from opioids or alcohol, which might make you want to use them less. But it’s not a cure for addiction.
You can get naltrexone as a shot called Vivitrol or as a pill. It’s important to start using naltrexone only after you’ve stopped depending on opioids. If you take naltrexone while still using opioids, it can cause withdrawal symptoms. So, it would help if you went through a supervised withdrawal first, which usually takes about a week or two. If you’ve been using a long-acting opioid like methadone or buprenorphine, the withdrawal process might take longer.
With naltrexone, which opioids should I stay away from?
If you’re taking Naltrexone, it’s important not to:
- Use any opioids, whether they’re prescription painkillers or illegal drugs like heroin.
- Use any illegal drugs.
- Drink alcohol.
- Take any drugs that make you feel relaxed or sleepy, like sedatives or tranquilizers.
If you try to use opioids while on Naltrexone, you won’t feel their effects. Naltrexone stops opioids from making you feel good or sleepy. But if you take a lot of opioids to try to get around naltrexone’s effects, it could be very dangerous—even deadly. Also, after you stop using opioids, your body becomes more sensitive to them, so even a small amount can be risky.
How can I take naltrexone if I miss a dose?
Make sure you don’t miss any of your Naltrexone doses. It’s important because while you’re taking naltrexone, your body’s tolerance to opioids goes down. This means if you go back to taking the same amount of opioids you used to, it could be really dangerous, even life-threatening.
If you forget to take your naltrexone pill, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed one. Don’t take extra to make up for it.
If you miss your naltrexone injection appointment, call your doctor’s office right away to make another appointment. If you take too much naltrexone, it could hurt your liver. So, always follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Don’t take more than 50 mg in one go.
Naltrexone won’t make you feel high, and people don’t usually abuse it for that reason. But taking too much can hurt your liver. If you start having stomach pain, notice white stools, dark pee, or yellowing in your eyes, that could mean your liver’s getting hurt, so stop taking it and call your doctor right away.
If you already have bad liver problems or acute hepatitis, don’t take naltrexone. And if you’re using opioids, have certain liver issues, or rely on opioids for chronic pain, naltrexone might not be right for you either. and never give or sell your naltrexone to anyone else, especially if they’re using opioids. It could make them go through withdrawal, which is uncomfortable and dangerous.
What to Avoid When Taking Low-Dose Naltrexone
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) usually doesn’t cause many problems, and if it does, they’re usually not serious and go away on their own. But sometimes, although it’s rare, you might have a bad reaction, like an allergy.
Doctors suggest avoiding a few things when you’re taking LDN to lower the chances of having any issues:
- Opioids and Alcohol Before starting LDN, you should stop using opioids and alcohol for about a week to ten days. Start LDN while still using opioids or alcohol. You might get withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, unable to sleep well, fevers, sweating a lot, feeling like you have the flu, suddenly getting hot or cold, having muscle aches or twitches, feeling sick in your stomach, throwing up, or having diarrhea.
- Certain Medications Some medicines have opioids or alcohol in them, so you should avoid them when you’re taking LDN.
For Example:
- Painkillers like hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl, and tramadol
- Cough and cold medicines like Phenergan or Promethazine
- Medicines for diarrhea
- It’s important to be careful with these things to make sure LDN works well for you and doesn’t cause any problems.
Side Effects of Low-Dose Naltrexone
Both regular strength and low-dose naltrexone can cause side effects. In a study at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, about 39% of patients with GI disorders didn’t have any side effects from taking low-dose naltrexone. But others did, and some even felt worse or didn’t get better.
For people with fibromyalgia, some might have trouble sleeping or vivid dreams while taking low-dose naltrexone, but it’s not common, and it usually goes away quickly.
Short-term side effects of regular-strength naltrexone
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Stomach pain and cramps
- Vomiting
- Feeling sick
- Feeling nervous or anxious
- Headaches
- Feeling tired
- Joint or muscle pain
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble focusing or coordinating
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling sad or tearful
- Irritability
- Skin rashes
- Feeling cold
- Feeling thirsty
If you have confusion, blurry vision, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or see or hear things that aren’t there, you should call your doctor right away.
Long-Term Side Effects
- Mild diarrhea
- Headaches
- Vivid dreams
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling sick
- Sometimes, your health problem might get worse, especially if it’s a stomach issue.
Long-term side effects of naltrexone could include liver problems, lasting pain in the upper right part of your belly, dark pee, pale poop, loss of appetite, or bleeding and bruising more easily. If you notice any of these, tell your doctor.
Conclusion
Naltrexone is a helpful medicine for people struggling with addiction to opioids or alcohol. It stops these substances from making you feel good, which can help you want to use them less. But it’s important to use it carefully and follow the doctor’s advice.
Remember, naltrexone isn’t a magic fix for addiction. It works best when combined with other treatments like therapy and lifestyle changes. And be sure to avoid opioids, alcohol, and certain meds while taking it to stay safe.
If you have any worries or strange feelings while taking naltrexone, talk to your doctor right away. Overall, it’s a useful tool in fighting addiction when used the right way.
Faq’s
Q1. What is low-dose naltrexone?
A1. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is when you take a smaller amount of naltrexone than usual. Instead of the regular dose for treating opioid addiction, LDN is about one-tenth of that dose, which is around 4.5mg a day.
Q2. What happens if you drink alcohol while taking naltrexone?
A2. Naltrexone stops the good feelings you get from alcohol. So, some people might drink more to try to feel the same way, which can lead to dangerous situations like an overdose.
Q3. How does Naltrexone make you feel?
A3. When you take naltrexone like you’re supposed to, it can help you drink less alcohol or drugs. You might not feel as strong of a need to drink or use drugs.
Q4. Does naltrexone make you sleepy?
A4. Some people might feel dizzy, tired, or faint when taking naltrexone. It’s important to be careful, especially when doing things like driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how naltrexone affects you.
Q5. Can you overdose on naltrexone?
A5. No, naltrexone is made so that you can’t overdose on it.
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