Naltrexone

Naltrexone is an active substance from the group of opioid antagonists that reverses the effects of exogenous and endogenous opioids.‍‍‍‍‍‍​​​‍​​​​​​ It is administered in tablet form for pharmacological relapse prevention following successful detoxification in opioid- or alcohol-dependent patients. The medication is generally taken once daily. The most common possible adverse effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, muscle and joint pain, headache, sleep disturbances, restlessness, nervousness, weakness, and a mild increase in blood pressure. Naltrexone is hepatotoxic in a dose-dependent manner, which must be taken into account during treatment. Its use in opioid dependence is controversial. Naltrexone (ATC N07BB04) is a competitive antagonist at opioid receptors and reverses the effects of exogenous and endogenous opioids. It provides supportive therapy for relapse prevention following opioid withdrawal. Endogenous opioids such as endorphins play an important role in alcohol dependence and alcohol craving. Therefore, naltrexone can also be used to manage alcohol dependence. Naltrexone itself has no opioid properties and does not cause dependence. Mechanism of action of opioid antagonists, click to enlarge. Illustration © PharmaWiki