Naltrexone

Treating alcoholism and narcotic (opioid) addiction in adults, as part of a complete treatment program. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Revia is a narcotic antagonist. It is thought to work by blocking the effects of injectable opioids (eg, heroin, narcotic pain relievers). It has also been shown to decrease alcohol consumption.

* you are allergic to any ingredient in Revia
* you are taking narcotic medications for pain, are dependent on narcotics, are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from narcotics, have failed the challenge test with Revia, or have tested positive for narcotics
* you have hepatitis, liver failure, or liver disease

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Revia:

Some medical conditions may interact with Revia. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

* if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
* if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
* if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
* if you have kidney or liver problems, or a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior with or without depression

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Revia. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

* Narcotic analgesics (eg, codeine), narcotic cough/cold medicines, or medicines used for diarrhea because effectiveness may be decreased by Revia. Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you are physically dependent on opioid medicines.
* Thioridazine because side effects such as sleepiness and sluggishness may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Revia may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Revia:

Use Revia as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

* Revia may be taken with or without food.
* Revia should not be taken until the naltrexone challenge test is negative.
* Before taking Revia, you must be willing to take Revia to help with alcohol dependence, you must be free of substance abuse for 7 to 10 days, you must not have any severe or active liver or kidney problems, and you must not have any other medical problems or conditions that make taking Revia inadvisable.
* If you miss a dose of Revia and you are taking 1 dose daily, do no try to make up the missed dose by doubling the dose the next day. Take the next scheduled dose and consult your doctor.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Revia.

Important safety information:

* Revia may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Revia. Using Revia alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
* Carry identification to alert health care providers that you are taking Revia. You can get a medication card from your doctor to use for this purpose.
* Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Revia.
* Contact your health care provider at once if any of the following signs or symptoms of hepatitis occur while taking Revia: stomach pain lasting more than a few days; white bowel movements; dark urine; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
* Do not use narcotics while taking Revia, including opioid-containing medicines (eg, cough and cold products, pain relievers, heroin). Revia may increase your sensitivity to narcotics. Therefore, even very low doses may cause coma or be life-threatening.
* Before you have any medical or dental surgery or emergency treatments, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Revia.
* LAB TESTS, including liver function, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
* Use Revia with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
* PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Revia during pregnancy. It is unknown if Revia is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Revia, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

If you are addicted to narcotics and are given Revia, you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms including anxiety; diarrhea; fever, runny nose or sneezing; goose bumps and abnormal skin sensations; nausea; vomiting; pain; rigid muscles; rapid heartbeat; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; shivering or tremors; sweating; and trouble sleeping.

Possible side effects of Revia:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

* Anxiety; appetite loss; chills; constipation; delayed ejaculation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; feeling down; headache; increased energy; increased thirst; irritability; joint and muscle pain; low energy; nausea; nervousness; sleeplessness; stomach pain/cramps; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

* Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abdominal or stomach pain; cramping; dark urine; depression; suicidal thoughts or behaviors; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; white bowel movements; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Proper storage of Revia:

Store Revia at room temperature, 59 to 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Revia out of the reach of children and away from pets.