(naltrexone hydrochloride) film-coated tablet
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Naltrexone GH. It does not contain all of the available information.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of your taking Naltrexone GH against the benefits they expect it will have for you. If you have any concerns about taking Naltrexone GH, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may want to read it again.
What Naltrexone GH is used for
Naltrexone GH is used to help opiate drug addicts kick the habit. It is also used to help alcoholics dry out and remain abstinent.
Naltrexone GH tablets contain the active ingredient, naltrexone hydrochloride. It is an opiate antagonist. This means it fights the effects of opiate drugs like heroin on the body, and blocks euphoria (or “high”) due to these opiates.
Your doctor may have prescribed Naltrexone GH for another use. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Naltrexone GH has been prescribed for you.
Naltrexone GH is not addictive.
Before you take Naltrexone GH
Naltrexone GH is not suitable for everyone.
When you must not take it
Do not take Naltrexone GH if you have had an allergic reaction to Naltrexone GH or any of the ingredients. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include, but are not limited to, swelling of the face or tongue, difficulty in breathing, wheezing or an itchy skin rash.
Do not take Naltrexone GH if you are still using heroin or drugs like it. If you take Naltrexone GH right after taking an opiate you will suffer withdrawal symptoms (cold turkey) (such as nausea, vomiting, shakiness, sweating and anxiety) which may be severe.
Do not take Naltrexone GH if you are on certain pain killers. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take Naltrexone GH if you have hepatitis or liver failure. Hepatitis is liver disease with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and dark coloured urine.
Do not take Naltrexone GH if you are pregnant or breast feeding unless your doctor tells you it is safe.
Do not take Naltrexone GH if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Do not take Naltrexone GH after the expiry date printed on the packaging.
Do not take Naltrexone GH if the packaging is torn or seems to have been opened, or the tablets do not look quite right. (See Product Description.)
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- you have any allergies to:
– any other medicines;
– any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes. - you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant or breastfeeding;
- you have or have had any liver disease;
- you have or have had any kidney disease;
- you are under 18 years of age.
Your doctor may give you a test called a NARCAN challenge. This is to see if you are still using heroin or drugs like it. If this test result is positive for heroin use, you will not be prescribed Naltrexone GH.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. These medicines may be affected by Naltrexone GH or they may affect how well Naltrexone GH works.
Tell your doctor if you are taking thioridazine or disulfiram.
Naltrexone GH may reduce or stop the effect of some cough and cold medicines, some medicines that treat loose bowel motions and some pain killers. If this happens, do not take larger doses of these other medicines. If you do, you may become very sick. Talk to your doctor. Your doctor will advise you.
How to take Naltrexone GH
Do not take Naltrexone GH to treat any condition other than that directed by your doctor.
Do not give Naltrexone GH to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem the same as yours. It may harm them.
How much to take
The usual adult dose is one tablet every day. You will usually take Naltrexone GH for at least 3 months, but it may be much longer. The time depends on how quickly you recover from alcohol or heroin addiction. Your doctor will decide the dose that is most appropriate for you. Please follow your doctor’s instructions about how and when to take Naltrexone GH.
You should not stop taking Naltrexone GH, or reduce the dose without first talking to you doctor. Depending on your response and on any side effects that you may experience, your doctor may adjust your dose of Naltrexone GH, upward or downward, or may temporarily discontinue your medicine.
If you stop taking Naltrexone GH and restart your heroin habit, you are at risk of being more sensitive to opiates. Therefore, restarting your heroin habit after stopping Naltrexone GH can lead to death from opiate overdose. You should talk to your doctor before you stop taking Naltrexone GH and before you start taking heroin again
How to take it
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take a dose of Naltrexone GH, take your next dose at its regular time.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure what to do.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Australian Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or the New Zealand National Poisons Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else has taken too much Naltrexone GH even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are taking Naltrexone GH
Things you must do
Make sure that all of your doctors, dentists and pharmacists know about your use of Naltrexone GH. Remind them if any new medicines are about to be started, or if you are about to have a medical or dental procedure.
You must tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Naltrexone GH.
Things you must not do
Do not use any other medicines while using Naltrexone GH unless you have discussed this with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop or street drugs.
Naltrexone GH may not protect you if you take large amounts of an opiate in an attempt to overcome the blocking effects of Naltrexone GH. Large doses of opiate can lead to difficulty in breathing and even to death from opiate overdose.
Do not use Naltrexone GH to treat any complaint other than that directed by your doctor. It may not be safe to use Naltrexone GH for another complaint.
Do not stop taking Naltrexone GH, or lower the dosage, without checking with you doctor.
Do not stop taking Naltrexone GH because you are feeling better unless advised to do so by your doctor.
Naltrexone GH should only be used by the person for whom it was prescribed. Do not give Naltrexone GH to someone else even if the symptoms are the same. It may not be safe for another person to use Naltrexone GH.
Do not give your tablets to people who are known to be dependent on opiate drugs because a withdrawal syndrome “cold turkey” may be precipitated. Signs and symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, shakiness, sweating and anxiety) which may be severe may develop within five minutes. If this happens, call a doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Naltrexone GH. Like all medicines, Naltrexone GH can cause side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not.
Side-effects can include:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain or cramps;
- headache, dizziness, nervousness, drowsiness;
- chest pain, joint and muscle pain;
- rash;
- tiredness, feeling anxious or irritable, difficulty sleeping, thirsty, loss of appetite, delayed ejaculation, sweating, increased tears, feeling down, chills, increased energy.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- If you have stomach pain lasting more than a few days, white bowel movements, dark urine, or yellowing of your eyes, you should stop taking Naltrexone GH immediately and see your doctor as soon as possible.
These side effects may indicate a serious medical condition and you may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- swelling to the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing;
- wheezing;
- severe and sudden onset of pinkish, itchy swelling of the skin;
- gastrointestinal bleeding (blood in your stool).
Naltrexone GH may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Naltrexone GH affects you.
If you drink alcohol while you are taking Naltrexone GH, your blood alcohol level increases in the same way just as it would if you are not taking Naltrexone GH. As this level rises, you can become physically and mentally impaired. The use of Naltrexone GH will not change this.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking Naltrexone GH
Storage
Keep Naltrexone GH in its packaging until it is time to take it. If you take the tablets out of their packaging, they may not keep well.
Keep Naltrexone GH in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not freeze.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car on hot or cold days.
Keep Naltrexone GH where children cannot reach it.
Disposal
Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
Product description
What it looks like
Naltrexone GH 50 mg tablets are beige, film-coated and capsule shaped. They are marked with a line on both sides.
Naltrexone GH tablets are available in blister strips of aluminium foil backing packed in cardboard. Each carton contains 30 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredient
Each Naltrexone GH tablet contains 50 mg of naltrexone hydrochloride as the active ingredient.
Other ingredients
- lactose monohydrate;
- microcrystalline cellulose;
- colloidal anhydrous silica;
- magnesium stearate;
- crospovidone;
- hypromellose;
- macrogol 4000;
- titanium dioxide;
- iron oxide black;
- iron oxide red;
- iron oxide yellow.
Australian Registration Numbers
Naltrexone GH 50 mg:
AUST R 128710.
Sponsor
Generic Health Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 2
19-23 Prospect Street
Box Hill, VIC, 3128, Australia
Email: ghinfo@generichealth.com.au
Phone: +61 3 9809 7900
Website: www.generichealth.com.au
Where to go for further information
Your doctor is the best person to answer any further questions you may have about Naltrexone GH.
Anything your doctor tells you about Naltrexone GH should be followed even if it is different from what is in this leaflet.
Pharmaceutical companies are not in a position to give people an individual diagnosis or medical advice. Your doctor or pharmacist is the best person to give you advice on the treatment of your condition.
This leaflet was prepared in February 2019.
Published by MIMS March 2020