
Alcoholism or abuse of alcohol is a condition in which there is a continued spell of drinking. These addictive spells may continue even when you have problems. As per reliable estimates, more than 275 million people live with alcoholism or associated disorders. These conditions are also labelled as alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorders. It remains a fact that alcohol is quite addictive; abuse of alcohol can impair essential organs. Naltrexone is used for treating abuse of substances like opioids and alcohol. But do you know what to avoid when taking low dose naltrexone?
Alcoholism is known to cause many health hazards; these include impairment of liver, incidence of cancers, withdrawal related problems, etc. Dependence on alcohol is capable of decreasing 10 life-years among people living with such conditions. This form of dependency occurs due to genetic as well as environmental reasons. In most cases, drinking of alcohol to beat stress often turns into an addiction.
People who have a sibling or a parent who abuses alcohol is more likely to turn alcoholic. Environmental reasons include cultural and social settings. There are instances wherein drinking spells are pursued to avoid signs of withdrawal; these signs include sleeplessness, migraines, tremors and being in a confused state of mind.
In this milieu, what is naltrexone?
This is a med administered for managing the effects of opioid abuse and / or excessive use of alcohol. Key ingredients of naltrexone can reduce euphoric feelings linked to intake of such intoxicants. This med also reduces your cravings for such items. This drug is available either as a pill or an injectable form.
Remedial effects kick-in in about 35 minutes from the time of dosing. However, in case of opioid abuse – it may take several weeks for positive outcomes to show up. Naltrexone was cleared for use in the mid-1980s. It now fares as an essential med, in the list compiled by the WHO. Naltrexone currently witnesses more than 1.1 million number of prescriptions each year.
What to avoid when taking low dose naltrexone?
Lose dose of naltrexone is taken for treating muscular pain – also known as fibromyalgia, and a few chronic types of pains. At lower dosage strength, this med is capable of healing internal swelling / inflammation, and inflammatory bowel diseases. At lower doses, this med can regulate your immunity cells’ responses. At doses of 5 mg – taken orally – patients saw improvement in conditions like psoriasis.
You are advised to avoid nursing infants i.e., breastfeeding – while using naltrexone. It is dangerous to take alcohol as you may tend to witness extreme levels of dizziness. Drugs such as disulfiram also must be avoided while you on this medication plan.
In the same light, refrain from taking meds like thioridazine while using this med. Women who are pregnant need to inform their doctor of their medical condition. Your doctor must know of the status of your pregnancy before dispensing such meds. Those who are planning to become pregnant must tell their physician / caregiving team of their plans.
As a precautionary measure, people who have hepatic conditions like cirrhosis of liver or hepatitis must keep their doctor updated of such conditions. At lower doses, naltrexone is capable of causing a few side effects; common among them are difficulties to pass stools, fatigue, drop in appetite level, mental problems like depression, mood shifts, etc.
If you witness outcomes like blurring of eyesight, severe spells of diarrhea or vomiting, call your doctor without any further delay. Also, if you notice darkened discharge of urine, abnormal bleeding or impairment of liver function, rush to a healthcare setting.
If low doses of naltrexone are causing allergies like swelling of oral parts or breathing difficulties, seek clinical support. Your doctor may prescribe safer alternatives to naltrexone. Above all, talk to your physician to know more about what to avoid when taking low dose naltrexone.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.