Before using naltrexone, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. Tell all medical healthcare providers, dentists, and pharmacists you go to that you are taking naltrexone. Remember that use of naltrexone is only part of your treatment. Be sure that you follow all of your healthcare provider’s orders, including seeing your therapist and/or attending support group meetings on a regular basis. This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors.
Side effects of naltrexone oral tablet
- It’s pretty hard to hurt someone with naltrexone unless they’re opiate-dependent and having those side effects.
- For medical advice about side effects, call your doctor for an appointment to discuss.
- If a person uses opioids (prescription or illicit) while taking naltrexone, they can experience precipitated opioid withdrawal because naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids.
- Studies show vivid dreams — affecting 37% of users — and headaches are the most common side effects of low-dose naltrexone.
- Sunnyside is not designed to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Avoid drinking alcohol, using opioid pain medications (such as codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, or morphine), or using illegal drugs while you are taking naltrexone. They may increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication. As with all medications, naltrexone has side effects that affect some patients.

Does naltrexone help with alcohol cravings?
Naltrexone will not prevent you from becoming impaired when you drink alcohol. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. When you join Sunnyside, you’ll start by completing a 3-minute private assessment so we can learn a bit about you.
Your commitment to your health and recovery is commendable, and with the right support and information, you’re well-equipped to handle the challenges that may arise along the way. The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker. Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions. Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation. Opioids are medically used for pain relief and are also widely abused for the euphoria they produce.
How to Monitor and Communicate Side Effects to Your Healthcare Provider
According to experts at the National MS Society, more substantial clinical trials are needed to confirm LDN’s effectiveness for treating multiple sclerosis. If you’re exploring the side effects of low dose naltrexone, you’re likely seeking detailed information. We evaluate medical studies published in reputable scientific journals to form our opinions on a product or health matter, ensuring the utmost scientific precision. There are no known interactions between naltrexone and alcohol. There are no known interactions between naltrexone and foods or drinks. Naltrexone is not known to affect the use of cocaine or other non-opioid drugs of misuse.
Lifestyle Quizzes
So many people find when they cut their drinking down, some of the adverse effects of naltrexone begin to emerge for them. So maybe it’s a subtle message that they’re actually better and they don’t need the medication as much. But at any rate, the point is that you can have good effects of naltrexone that later turn into neutral-to-negative effects, because maybe you’re better. System is responding different than the brain—we really don’t have a good science handle on that.


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As with most drugs, naltrexone oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. As LDN gains traction, especially among healthcare providers specializing in integrative medicine, it’s important to consider real-world prescribing practices. LDN is commonly given at dosing levels that differ from those used for addiction treatment. Feedback from patient experiences suggests that LDN can positively impact quality of life, especially when traditional treatments have fallen short. Low Dose Naltrexone, commonly abbreviated as LDN, is an off-label use of the FDA-approved drug Naltrexone.
Communicating with Your Healthcare Provider
Only your health care provider can determine the route of administration and correct dose for you. Though rare, some patients may experience more serious side effects naltrexone side effects while taking oral Naltrexone. It’s important to recognize these symptoms early and seek medical attention if they occur.
Naltrexone works by blocking the effect of opioid receptors and decreasing cravings and urges to use alcohol or opioids. This allows people who take the medication to control urges to use and help maintain abstinence from these substances. It is important to combine naltrexone treatment with counseling and other support. Naltrexone blocks opioid and alcohol effects, reducing cravings without causing dependence. Methadone and Buprenorphine activate opioid receptors to ease withdrawal but can be habit-forming. Antabuse (Disulfiram) creates alcohol sensitivity, causing sickness if alcohol is consumed.
Typically, people are given a test dose of 25 mg daily to ensure they can tolerate the medication. If the low dose is tolerated, the dose is increased to 50 mg daily. Only your health care provider can determine the length of treatment that is right for you. This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions.
However, a combination drug called Contrave, containing naltrexone and bupropion, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. Talk with your doctor if you are interested in learning more about Contrave. Louis A. Cona, MD has been a pioneer in regenerative cell therapy, providing his first stem cell studies over a decade ago.