Can You Take Naltrexone If You Have Hep C? Risks and More

Now, researchers say it may be helpful for alcohol use disorder. Most people get a Vivitrol injection once every 4 weeks, or once each month. You can see this article for more in-depth information about Vivitrol’s recommended dosage. In addition to this https://sober-home.org/ use, Vivitrol is prescribed for alcohol dependence. To learn more, see “Is Vivitrol used for alcohol dependence? Opioid dependence is possible with typical use of opioid medications, even when they’re prescribed by a doctor and taken as directed.

• In clinical trials of people who took Vivitrol for opioid dependence, ALT increased in about 13% of the people.
• Taking the two drugs together won’t affect the way that Adderall works.
• Naltrexone exposure is three to four times greater when using Vivitrol as opposed to using oral naltrexone 50 mg tablets once daily.
• If you miss a Vivitrol treatment appointment, reach out to your healthcare provider and reschedule as soon as possible.
• Incorrect injections can cause serious injury and may require you to go to a hospital.

These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. Talk with your doctor about feeding options for your child if you’re being treated with Vivitrol. Your doctor can review the pros and cons of the options available to you. You should also tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you take. They can then check for any interactions with Vivitrol.

Vivitrol basics

They can also review your treatment plan for anything that may be causing weight gain. It’s not likely, but weight gain is possible from using Vivitrol. Both weight gain and weight loss were reported by people who took Vivitrol in studies, but both were extremely rare. If you have additional questions about sexual function, opioid use disorder, and your treatment plan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Vivitrol is given as an injection into a muscle in your buttocks by a healthcare professional.

Instead, the drug is extensively metabolized by dihydrodiol dehydrogenase to the primary metabolite, 6-beta-naltrexol. The half-life of the main metabolite, 6-beta-naltrexol, is also 5 to 10 days. Vivitrol should be used along with psychosocial support as part of a comprehensive treatment program. It’s not known if Vivitrol is safe to take during pregnancy. For more information, please see the “Vivitrol and pregnancy” section above.

It’s also important to note that naltrexone tablets only last in your body for about 1 or 2 days. Whereas a Vivitrol injection lasts for at least a month. So, if you have side effects after taking naltrexone tablets, they may not last as long as the side effects of Vivitrol injections. Vivitrol is given once a month as an intramuscular injection by your doctor or another healthcare professional. Vivitrol is approved to help prevent people from taking opioids after they’ve stopped taking them.

Can You Take Naltrexone If You Have Hepatitis C? What to Know

The results showed that opioid relapses occurred in 65% of people who took Vivitrol and in 57% of people who took Suboxone. A healthcare professional will give you Vivitrol as an injection into the muscle of your buttock. Suboxone is FDA-approved to treat only opioid dependence. In a long-term clinical trial that looked at opioid dependence, more than 5% of people who took Vivitrol had diarrhea. Symptoms of opioid withdrawal can be mild or severe, but usually withdrawal symptoms aren’t severe. However, if you’ve recently taken an opioid medication and then start Vivitrol treatment, you can have sudden opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Garbutt JC. Efficacy and tolerability of naltrexone in the management of alcohol dependence. If you’d like to learn more about Vivitrol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of the drug. It’s not known if Vivitrol injections are safe to receive during pregnancy.

If you consume alcohol and have questions about how to stop drinking before beginning treatment with Vivitrol, talk with your doctor. You shouldn’t drink alcohol if you’re prescribed Vivitrol for this use. It isn’t known if it’s safe for people with moderate to severe kidney problems to be treated with Vivitrol.

What are the more common side effects of Vivitrol?

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Vivitrol and Suboxone. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know more about these drugs. Find answers below to some commonly asked questions about Vivitrol.

They may recommend a different medication for your condition. Before taking Vivitrol, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Vivitrol. If you have nausea that won’t go away after a Vivitrol injection, or that is bothersome to you, talk with your doctor. Although nausea usually goes away on its own, this may not be the case for you.

Vivitrol is available as a prescription injection given by your healthcare provider. Find out what the recommended dosage is, how to use the drug, and more. After Vivitrol injection, the initial peak occurs 2 hours post dose. A second peak occurs about 2 to 3 days after the dose of Vivitrol. After about 14 days, the medication concentration slowly starts to decrease.

And the medication hasn’t been studied in relation to weight loss. There are no known interactions between Vivitrol and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine). Adderall is a stimulant medication that works in a different way than Vivitrol. Stimulant drugs excite your central nervous system, which includes your brain, and may help you focus or wake up.

Naltrexone and liver disease

However, Xanax, much like alcohol and opioids, is an addicting medication. If you’re prone to dependence, your doctor may want you to take a different medication so that you don’t risk becoming dependent on Xanax. Vivitrol is meant to be used as a long-term treatment for alcohol or opioid dependence.

More common side effects of Vivitrol

Talk with your doctor if you develop a headache that bothers you or won’t go away during your treatment with Vivitrol. For more information on long-term side effects and Vivitrol, see the next question below. Side effects eco sober house cost from Vivitrol can vary from person to person. Bergasa NV, Schmitt JM, Talbot TL, Alling DW, Swain MG, Turner ML, Jenkins JB, et al. Open-label trial of oral nalmefene therapy for the pruritus of cholestasis.

Long-Term Side Effects

Vivitrol is given as an injection into a muscle of your buttock. People with bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, may have a higher risk of uncontrollable bleeding from this injection. Talk with your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder before you start treatment with Vivitrol.