Naltrexone Injection

Brands: Vivitrol

Uses

This medicine is used for the following purposes:

• drug addiction
• alcohol dependence

Instructions

This medicine will be given to you at the doctor's office.

This medicine is given as an injection into a muscle.

This medicine should only be used by a person who has been trained to recognize when and how it should be used.

Drug interactions can change how medicines work or increase risk for side effects. Tell your health care providers about all medicines taken. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal medicines. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or stopping any medicine.

Keep all appointments for medical exams and tests while on this medicine.

Cautions

Rarely, this medicine may cause serious injury at the site of injection. Call your doctor right away if you notice any pain, swelling, blisters, sores, lumps under the skin, or scabbing at the injection site.

This medicine is associated with a rare, but serious problem of the liver. Speak to your doctor about the early signs of liver problems and the benefits and risks of using this medicine.

You may become more sensitive to effects of opioid medicines during or after using this medicine. This can increase risk of serious or fatal overdose.

Your ability to stay alert or to react quickly may be impaired by this medicine. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you.

If possible, avoid using with alcohol, marijuana, or other medicines that can cause dizziness or drowsiness. These include allergy/cold products, muscle relaxers, sleep aids, and pain relievers.

Tell the doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Do not breastfeed while on this medicine. This medicine can pass through breast milk to the baby.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any swelling of your hands, face, lips, eyes, throat or tongue.

Always carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet indicating your medical condition.

Some patients have serious side effects from this medicine. Ask your pharmacist to show you the information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and discuss it with you.

Side Effects

The following is a list of some common side effects from this medicine. Please speak with your doctor about what you should do if you experience these or other side effects.

• agitated feeling or trouble sleeping
• decreased appetite
• dizziness or drowsiness
• lack of energy and tiredness
• headaches
• pain, redness, swelling near injection
• joint or muscle pain
• nausea
• runny nose
• stomach upset or abdominal pain

Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you notice any of these more serious side effects:

• severe abdominal or pelvic pain
• severe allergic reaction
• chest pain
• confusion
• diarrhea
• hallucinations (unusual thoughts, seeing or hearing things that are not real)
• severe or persistent headache
• signs of liver damage (such as yellowing of eye or skin, dark urine, or unusual tiredness)
• nervousness
• shakiness
• shortness of breath
• light colored stool
• severe or persistent vomiting

A few people may have an allergic reaction to this medicine. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, skin rash, itching, swelling, or severe dizziness. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help quickly.

Extra

Please speak with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medicine.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This document tells you briefly how to take your medicine, but it does not tell you all there is to know about it. Your doctor or pharmacist may give you other documents about your medicine. Please talk to them if you have any questions. Always follow their advice. There is a more complete description of this medicine available in English. Scan this code on your smartphone or tablet or use the web address below. You can also ask your pharmacist for a printout. If you have any questions, please ask your pharmacist. The display and use of this drug information is subject to Terms of Use. Copyright(c) 2023 First Databank, Inc.