Naltrexone is a medication which is prescribed by doctors when a person is deep into substance abuse like alcohol and opioids. It works by reducing the cravings. Follow this article to explore more about what naltrexone is used for and what to avoid when taking naltrexone.
Naltrexone is a type of medication that is also sold under the names of Revia and Vivitrol. The primary function of naltrexone is to stop the cravings for alcohol and other opioids. Naltrexone is never given alone, a person has to be a part of behavioral therapies and other treatments for substance abuse. Also, naltrexone cannot be given to people who are under the age of eighteen or have some serious health condition.
Naltrexone reduces the cravings in a person and balances the urge to have some alcohol or any other substance. It is a medication that helps a certain group of people to get out of a dark place. Naltrexone is not an addictive medication, it helps people deal with opioids such as heroin, morphine, alcohol, cocaine, weed, and so much more. It fights the urges developing inside our body. You can stop taking naltrexone anytime, it is not an opioid so it is not addictive.
Follow this article to explore more about what naltrexone is used for and what to avoid when taking naltrexone.
Table of Contents
What is naltrexone used for?
Naltrexone is basically used to fight substance abuse. It stops a person from using a certain drug that they have become addicted to. When a person wants to quit their addiction and they are taking behavioral therapy then, doctors also prescribe them naltrexone. Following are the cases in which naltrexone is used for.
- Alcohol addiction
- Morphine
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- Weed
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
Alcohol addiction:
Alcohol addiction is one of the most common types of addiction. It slows down the productivity of your brain and slows down the functioning of the central nervous system. It can destroy the peace of your mind and you will not be able to stay in your senses.
When a person is addicted to alcohol then, there is a chance that they are in too deep and they find it impossible to get out of it. Naltrexone helps a person by reducing a person’s urge to have alcohol. He/she will be able to control themselves as compared to before.
Morphine:
Morphine is a type of opium that is used to get relief from any physical pain. But it can also make a person psychologically dependent on morphine. A person who constantly uses morphine as a source to deal with their pain, there will be a change in their behavior. Naltrexone is used as a medication that deals with people who abuse morphine. It blocks the effects of morphine and stops the cravings.
Heroin:
Heroin is also a type of opium that comes from a Papaver Somniferum plant. It comes under the category of narcotics. It is a highly addictive substance that can slow down your brain. More than physical addiction, it makes you addicted to it mentally. Naltrexone deals with patients that are addicted to heroin, it decreases their chances of going back towards it.
Cocaine:
Cocaine is a substance that can trigger your brain’s pleasure chemicals. You would feel numb to everything that is happening around you and it will completely derange your mental health. You will be addicted to cocaine psychologically more than physically. Naltrexone brings the people back who are withdrawn from the world by being addicted to cocaine. It blocks all the effects cocaine has on your brain and central nervous system.
Cannabis:
Cannabis, also popularly known as maijuana and weed. It falls under the category of narcotics. Cannabis comes from a plant named cannabis sativa and cannabis indica. It is an addictive substance that comes like a gray powder. Usually people consume cannabis/weed by smoking it. Naltrexone will stop cannabis from working and it will reduce the high levels of weed/cannabis from your blood.
Hallucinogens:
Although hallucinogens are not highly addictive like other substances, still it can make a person mentally dependent on them when they use it religiously. Naltrexone will slow down its effects on your brain and it will also fight the urge in your system to use hallucinogens.
What are the side effects of taking naltrexone?
Just like every other medication, there are some side effects of taking naltrexone as well. According to healthcare professionals, the side effects of taking naltrexone vary from dose to dose. Some of the common side effects of taking naltrexone are.
- Cramps
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Joint pain
- Insomnia
Cramps:
Feeling stomach and abdominal cramps can be a side effect of using naltrexone. It is one of the common side effects of taking naltrexone. The muscles in your stomach will feel stiff and it can cause cramping in different areas of your abdomen. It is best for you to consult your doctor when the cramps become unbearable.
Anxiety:
Naltrexone can make a person more anxious and stressed. The patient will easily get stressed over little things and often they will appear confused. There will be tension between their neck and shoulders and the constant sweating will make things more difficult for the patient. You must have a detailed conversation with your doctor about the side effects of taking naltrexone before you start consuming them.
Headache:
Another side effect of taking naltrexone is dealing with headache. Your head will feel heavy, it happens mainly because when naltrexone is fighting your body’s urge to consume alcohol or any other substance. Naltrexone stops those urges and this can put a lot of pressure on your brain. To stop the mental urge to consume a substance will make things tough for you.
Vomiting:
Naltrexone can make a person feel nauseated and sick. One of the common side effects of taking naltrexone is vomiting. Your stomach will be fighting against the chemicals that are present there because of the substance abuse. Naltrexone works as a cleanser, which is why you are most likely to vomit for a few days.
Joint pain:
Another side effect of taking naltrexone is having joint and muscle pain. Your joints will be stiff and there will be tension in your muscles. This can cause you to have joint pain for as long as you are taking naltrexone. It will be best for you to consult a healthcare professional when you have cramps in your joints. You must stop taking naltrexone when the pain becomes unbearable and continue after consulting a healthcare professional.
Insomnia:
Insomnia is another common side effect of taking naltrexone. Naltrexone will interfere with your brain’s production of melatonin, a sleep chemical. When a person is taking naltrexone, it will derange your brain’s sleep schedule, making it tough for you to fall asleep. Insomnia is one of the most common side effects of taking naltrexone, whether you are taking a high dose or a small dose.
What to avoid when taking naltrexone?
There are things that you need to avoid when taking naltrexone otherwise, the medication can have a reaction that your body might be able to take. Following are some things that you need to avoid when taking naltrexone.
- Opioid drugs
- Fatty meals
- Alcohol
- Antidiarrheal medication
- Cold medication
- Drugs
- Thioridazine
- Alcohol dependence medication
Opioid drugs:
Naltrexone’s main function is to stop the effect of opioids. You must avoid going near certain opioids when you are taking naltrexone. Morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, and fentanyl. These are some of the opioids that you must avoid when you are taking naltrexone. It is supreme that you do not take these opioids otherwise, the medication will have a dangerous reaction.
Fatty meals:
Do not consume too much fat when you are taking naltrexone. This can increase your chances of having a seizure. The excess fat will slow down the process of naltrexone, making it less effective. The fat can also increase the cholesterol to get mixed with the drug in your blood, making it dangerous for you.
Alcohol:
Alcohol can slow down your brain’s productivity, it will also increase the chances of naltrexone to work properly. It is supreme for you to avoid consuming alcohol when you are taking naltrexone otherwise, the high level of alcohol in your system can cause you to have seizures, nervous breakdown, and heart failure when mixed with naltrexone. The result can be fatal for you so you must avoid alcohol when you are taking naltrexone.
Antidiarrheal medication:
Antidiarrheal medications like loperamide have properties that are similar to some of the opioids. It can block the path of naltrexone and can cause it to slow down its function. All of this can cause a person to have severe vomiting, anxiety, muscle and joint pain, abdominal pain, and sweating. To avoid all of this you must not consume naltrexone when you are taking antidiarrheal medications.
Cold medication:
Some cold medications have codeine in them which is an opioid. It can make the situation worse for you when you combine naltrexone with cold medication. It is wise to tell your doctor before if you have been suffering from a cold and you are taking some sort of medication for that. This will help you avoid a serious reaction that can affect your health.
Drugs:
Taking illicit drugs is never a good idea, especially when you are on medications. The drugs will slow down the functions of the medicines that you are taking, it will mess up your brain’s chemical formation, making your brain foggy and less productive. Naltrexone will not be able to work properly and when mixed with the drugs, it can cause serious damage to your brain and can also cause a person to be dead because of overdose.
Thioridazine:
Thioridazine is a drug that works as an antipsychotic medication. You must avoid taking thioridazine when you are taking naltrexone, this can make a person suffer from excess sleepiness and it will completely derange your brain’s sleeping schedule. The patient will not be able to control their sleep and they will be dizzy most of the time. When thioridazine is combined with naltrexone, it can result in the suppression of the central nervous system.
Alcohol dependence medication:
We know that it is not a wise idea to combine naltrexone with any sort of medication, but you must religiously avoid taking naltrexone when you are already consuming alcohol or drugs dependence medication. Not even a single medication will work properly and it will just have an overdose reaction on your body.
What are the things that you must keep in mind when taking naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a complicated medicine which can have severe side effects if you do not consume it properly. Following are the things that you must keep in mind before taking naltrexone.
- How it works
- Ups and downs
- Consultation from a healthcare professional
- How it affects your body
- Interactions
How it works:
It is essential for a patient to know how their medication works before they start taking them. Not just naltrexone but with every other medication that you are taking. You must know how your medication will work. Naltrexone slows down the levels of drugs and alcohol in your system, which is why it is supreme to not take any drug or alcohol when you are taking naltrexone.
Ups and downs:
You must know the ups and downs of naltrexone before you start taking it. Like it stops your body from going into relapse and reduces your body’s urge to have alcohol or any other opioid drug. But on the downside, it can cause headaches, anxiety, insomnia, vomiting, joint pain, stress, depression, and fatigue. Naltrexone is also not good for people who are already suffering from kidney, liver, heart, or brain disease.
Consultation from a healthcare professional:
Never consume any of your medications without consulting a healthcare professional first. Your doctor will not prescribe you medication before checking you thoroughly and knowing about your allergies. Especially when you are taking naltrexone, you have to be extra careful because indirectly it will affect the activity of your brain. It will derange your body’s schedule to perform some things, it will make you anxious, and fatigued. It is best for you to talk to your doctor first and have a detailed conversation about naltrexone before you start taking it.
How it affects your body:
Naltrexone starts working within an hour after you consume it. According to healthcare professionals, when a person takes 50 mg of naltrexone, it will diffuse 25 mg of heroin for at least twenty four hours. This shows how fast naltrexone works and how it affects our body. It is essential that you know that naltrexone will reach its peak plasma level after one hour it goes into your system.
Interactions:
It is supreme for you to keep the side effects in mind. You should know what things you need to avoid when you are taking naltrexone otherwise, you will have to face some serious side effects. Some of the things that you need to religiously avoid are alcohol, illicit drugs, cold medications, antidiarrheal medications, opioids, fatty meals, and thioridazine. These medications will make the situation worse for you when you take them with naltrexone.
Conclusion:
Naltrexone is a medication that is suitable for people who are suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. It will decrease the levels of drugs and alcohol from a person’s blood and decrease their brain’s urge to take more drugs. Drugs like morphine, heroine, cannabis, cocaine, and hallucinogens are some of the examples on which naltrexone is used as a treatment. Naltrexone directly affects your brain and your body, which is why it is supreme that you take it in a proper manner. One wrong move can have a strong reaction that your body might not be able to take.
You have to make sure that you avoid consuming alcohol and drugs. Naltrexone is a medication that slows down the bodily urge to consume alcohol but when you relapse and there is still naltrexone in your system. There is a chance it will have a strong reaction, it can directly affect your brain, your heart, and your central nervous system. It is wise to talk to your doctor about naltrexone before you start taking it. Know its ups and downs, and how it is going to affect your body. It is supreme that you know all of these things before it is too late.
