VIVITROL Injectable By ALKERMES INC MPB
Generic Name: Naltrexone
SKU
VIVITROL-Injectable
This medication is used to treat alcohol abuse. It is used only in people who have been able to stop drinking for some time before starting treatment with naltrexone. You should not be drinking when you start naltrexone. It can help people drink less alcohol or stop drinking altogether. Naltrexone works in the brain to decrease the desire to drink. It does not work like some other treatments for alcohol abuse (e.g., disulfiram). It will not make you sick when taken with alcohol. This medication is also used to prevent relapse to opioid abuse, after opioid detoxification. It works by blocking the action of opioids. This medication must not be used in people currently taking opiates, including methadone. Doing so can cause sudden withdrawal symptoms. Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. It is used as part of a complete treatment program for alcohol or opioid abuse (e.g., counseling, 12-step program, lifestyle changes).
Nausea, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, tiredness, and loss of appetite may occur. If you have been using opiates regularly, mild opiate withdrawal symptoms may occur, including abdominal cramps, restlessness, bone/joint pain, muscle aches, and runny nose. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Pain/redness/swelling/itching/bruising at the injection site may also occur. If any of these effects steadily worsen, or if they persist longer than two weeks, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. Rarely, a severe injection site reaction can cause permanent injury if not treated. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Sudden opiate withdrawal symptoms can occur within minutes after using naltrexone if you are physically addicted to opiates. Tell your doctor right away if any of these withdrawal symptoms occur: vomiting, diarrhea, mental/mood changes (e.g., anxiety, confusion, extreme sleepiness, visual hallucinations). Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: fast/irregular heartbeat, depression/rare thoughts of suicide, signs of a serious breathing problem/pneumonia (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, wheezing), blisters/sores at injection site. Get medical help right away if this rare but very serious side effect occurs: chest pain. Naltrexone may rarely cause serious liver disease. The risk is increased when larger doses are used. Stop using this medication and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage, including: dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
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