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Naltrexone is an organic chemical compound that acts as an antidote. It binds to opioid receptors, being primarily their antagonist – it prevents narcotic substances from attaching to them. It also supports the treatment of alcoholism, facilitating abstinence, although in this case the mechanism of action is not fully known. It is used in medicines as naltrexone hydrochloride (for oral medicines) and methylnaltrexone bromide (for injection under the skin to treat opioid constipation).
Indications for treatment with naltrexone and its preparations
naltrekson is a drug supporting the treatment of addicted patients opioids and an antidote for poisoning with these substances administered for detoxification. Its action also helps to maintain abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients. Use of naltrexone has many advantages: the drug itself is not mentally or physically addictive, and with its regular use, the body does not develop tolerance. The measure reduces the desire to take stimulants, but if taken, it does not cause a violent, negative reaction. Of course treatment with naltrexone must be performed under strict medical supervision. The naltrexone formulations currently available are:
- Naltex, tabl. pow. 50 mg, 28 pcs.
- Adepend, tabl. pow. 50 mg, 28 pcs.
- Mysimba – in combination with bupropion, tabl. extension release, 8 mg + 90 mg, 112 pcs.
- Relistor, solution for injection, 12 mg / 0,6 ml, 1 vial, methylnaltrexone form – used to treat opioid constipation.
Medicines containing in its composition naltrekson are not refunded. Nalterkson in low doses (LDN) is successfully used in the USA in autoimmune, rheumatic and cancer diseases as well as HIV / AIDS in therapy, in Poland only a few doctors decide on this type of therapy, because it is not a standard method of therapy.
Contraindications and precautions for naltrexone treatment
naltrekson not recommended during pregnancy and lactation. It should also not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
The drug impairs psychomotor performance.
An absolute contraindication for use of naltrexone is hypersensitivity to it or any of the auxiliary drugs. Naltrexone must also not be used in the case of the following complaints: severe renal and hepatic failure, acute hepatitis. It can not be used with opioid drugs and methadone, and in addicted patients. Treatment with naltrexone should be used after discontinuation opioidsbecause the ingestion of a large dose during treatment may lead to life-threatening poisoning with these substances. In turn, the party naltrexone causes withdrawal syndrome by patients who continue to use opioids.
Very common side effects occurring on the nervous and digestive systems are: anxiety and restlessness, difficulty falling asleep and insomnia, headache and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Muscle and joint pain, weakness, and asthenia (a state of physical and mental weakness of the body) may also appear very often. If you use any medicine containing naltrexone, please read the package leaflet carefully, which states the frequency of different types of side effects for each preparation..