Naltrexone Side Effects: What To Expect
Keep in mind that irregular heartbeat may also be a withdrawal symptom resulting from recent discontinuation of an opioid medication. It is also plausible that naltrexone increased anxiety or nervousness, ultimately leading to https://dearing-group.com/brain-recovery-after-alcohol-abuse/ palpitations and cardiac irregularities. Users of naltrexone could become dehydrated if they experience diarrhea. Obviously if you’re really thirsty, drinking more than usual, and experiencing frequent urination – you may want to scale back. Most people don’t find that the increased thirst and possibly increasingly frequent urination is problematic. If you have concerns or need support in your recovery journey, The Edge Treatment Center is here to help.
Precipitated Withdrawal
The drug antagonizes mu-opioid receptors and these opioid receptors crosstalk with the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway – implicated in pleasure/reward. Since activation in pleasure/reward centers decreases during treatment, it makes sense that food won’t be as appealing and appetite will diminish. Generally, the greater the dosage of naltrexone used, the more pronounced the appetite suppression is likely to be. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking naltrexone. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of this drug but can still occur. Consider mesenchymal stem cell therapy, a cutting-edge treatment that has shown promise in addressing autoimmune conditions and chronic pain.
Naltrexone Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)
The medication helps reduce the rewarding feelings you may get from drinking alcohol marijuana addiction and the cravings you may have for alcohol. Naltrexone is FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adults. With dependence, your body needs a drug to feel as it typically would. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as naltrexone to treat certain conditions. Naltrexone oral tablet may also be prescribed off-label for other conditions.
- The only drawback of naltrexone is its side effects, most of which fortunately remain manageable.
- Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment plan, including the use of naltrexone.
Overdose Information for Naltrexone Hydrochloride Tablets

The following list includes just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took naltrexone in clinical trials. These side effects vary depending on which condition the drug is naltrexone side effects being used to treat. The prescription opioid antagonist, called naltrexone, was first approved by the FDA to treat opioid dependence in 1984.
Naltrexone Side Effects
Comprehensive treatment programs for any type of substance use disorder should involve counseling, support groups, or other behavioral health therapies. In view of the lack of actual experience in the treatment of naltrexone hydrochloride overdose, patientsshould be treated symptomatically in a closely supervised environment. Physicians should contact apoison control center for the most up-to-date information.

Recognize When Lifestyle Choices Impact the Duration
While it can make you feel more in control of these decisions, there are some other feelings to consider that can occur as side effects from taking naltrexone. However, these headaches are mostly mild and tolerable, requiring no intervention. If your headache is slowly becoming bothersome, talk to an expert about the potential solutions to keep it under control. ✔️ Some people who take naltrexone have reported experiencing very vivid dreams or nightmares while taking naltrexone for drug or alcohol addiction.
Side Effects of Naltrexone: What to Expect
Naltrexone is often used before drinking, known as the Sinclair method, as a way to reduce alcohol use for people who are unable or unwilling to adopt abstinence. Dr. John David Sinclair showed that the longer someone abstained from drinking, the more intense cravings they had, and he called this the “alcohol deprivation effect”. However, when given naltrexone before drinking, the cravings would greatly decrease, resulting in only one alcoholic drink before the person no longer craved alcohol. Naltrexone is often confused with naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication. Although these medications are both opioid antagonists, they serve very different purposes in people who use opioids. Although naltrexone is a medication used for AUD and OUD, it is not a cure for addiction.