Revia (Naltrexone)

Revia is used for 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 (e.g., heroin, narcotic pain relievers). It has also been shown to decrease alcohol consumption.

Do not use Revia if:

• 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.

• Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• 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 (e.g., 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.

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.

• 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.

Revia is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.