Naltrexone oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes naltrexone oral tablet’s dosages and strength and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for naltrexone.

If you want to know more about naltrexone oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, its side effects, and more.

Naltrexone oral tablet is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version. Naltrexone also comes as an injection, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form, talk with your doctor.

Form and strength of naltrexone

Naltrexone oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strength: 50 milligrams (mg)

Dosage of naltrexone

This article describes the recommended dosages for naltrexone oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of naltrexone oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of naltrexone in adults

Naltrexone is prescribed for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) in adults. It’s part of a complete treatment program that includes receiving social and behavioral therapy.

Doctors will prescribe the recommended dosage of naltrexone based on the condition it’s treating and other factors. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the right dosage that gives the desired outcome.

Your doctor will determine your maximum dosage of naltrexone based on several factors. These include your overall health, medications you’re taking, and other health conditions you may have.

Dosage for alcohol use disorder (AUD)

Your doctor will tell you when it’s safe to start naltrexone treatment after you’ve stopped drinking alcohol. This could be a period of at least 3–7 days.

The recommended dosage of naltrexone for AUD is 50 milligrams (mg) once per day. The drugmaker recommends taking this dosage for up to 12 weeks. Along with it, your doctor will recommend that you receive social and behavioral therapy.

You and your doctor can discuss how naltrexone will work to treat your condition. You can also discuss how long you might need to take it. If you have questions about your dosage, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for opioid use disorder (OUD)

Your doctor will prescribe naltrexone after you’ve stopped taking opioid substances for at least 7–10 days. Taking naltrexone together with opioid substances can cause withdrawal symptoms that may be serious. These uncomfortable side effects can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is used to having.

Before starting your naltrexone treatment, your doctor may verify whether you have opioid substances in your body. They’ll screen for these by testing a sample of your urine.

If needed, your doctor may also do a naloxone challenge test. Naloxone is a medication that can be used to reverse the effects of opioids. In this test, you receive an injection of naloxone to see whether you experience opioid withdrawal symptoms. If you don’t have these symptoms, then your doctor may start naltrexone treatment. If you do have these symptoms, they may repeat the test once daily until you don’t have symptoms.

When you start naltrexone for OUD, you’ll typically take 25 mg of naltrexone the first day. If you show no withdrawal symptoms, you’ll then take 50 mg once per day for as long as your doctor advises it. Along with naltrexone, your doctor will recommend that you receive social and behavioral therapy.

For some people, treatment may require supervised dosing to ensure that treatment is followed correctly. With supervised dosing, you’ll take each dose of naltrexone in a doctor’s office or clinic. To do so, your doctor may help you decide on a treatment plan suitable for you. For example, you might take 50 mg once per day each weekday and 100 mg on Saturday. Alternatively, you might take 100 mg every other day or 150 mg every third day. Your doctor will help you plan a suitable dosage and dosing schedule.

Note: Taking doses higher than 50 mg per day may increase your risk of liver injury. In this case, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of this dosage.

Dosage adjustments for naltrexone

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of naltrexone oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated
• how severe the condition is
• other health conditions you may have

Missed dose of naltrexone

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of naltrexone oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of naltrexone oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about naltrexone oral tablet and its dosage.

Can naltrexone be used for weight loss? If so, what’s the dosage?

No, naltrexone is not approved for weight loss. The drug is approved only for treating alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. Some people taking naltrexone have had weight loss or weight gain. Changes in weight and appetite are common side effects of the medication.

But the prescription drug Contrave contains both naltrexone and bupropion. Contrave is prescribed to help adults with weight loss.

If you have questions about naltrexone and weight loss, talk with your doctor. Likewise, you can talk with your doctor for more information about Contrave.

Is naltrexone taken long term?

It’s possible. Doctors may prescribe naltrexone oral tablet as a short-term or long-term treatment. The length of your treatment will depend on the condition the drug is treating.

For alcohol use disorder (AUD), the drugmaker recommends taking naloxone for up to 12 weeks. But your doctor will discuss a treatment plan and schedule for AUD or opioid use disorder.

If you have questions about how long you can expect to take naltrexone oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

Note: Once you stop naltrexone treatment, your body may be more sensitive to the effects of opioid substances. If you were to take opioid substances, this sensitivity could increase your risk of serious side effects, including overdose. Ask your doctor for more information about what to expect once you stop naltrexone treatment.

Is there a risk of withdrawal with naltrexone?

No, naltrexone doesn’t pose a risk of withdrawal. Naltrexone is a medication that blocks the effects of opioid substances. Taking the medication doesn’t cause dependence. (With dependence, your body needs the drug to function as usual.) It also doesn’t cause withdrawal symptoms. (These uncomfortable side effects can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is used to having.)

But if you have an opioid substance in your body when you start naltrexone, you may experience opioid withdrawal symptoms. These include:

• agitation
• anxiety
• nausea
• sleep problems
• stomach cramps
• sweating
• vomiting

Your doctor will ask you whether you’ve stopped all opioid substances before starting naltrexone. They won’t start naltrexone until there are no opioid substances in your body for at least 7–10 days. This helps avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Your doctor will screen for opioids by testing a sample of your urine. If needed, they may give you a naloxone challenge test. Naloxone is a medication that can be used to reverse the effects of opioids. In this test, you receive an injection of naloxone to see whether you experience opioid withdrawal symptoms. If you don’t have these symptoms, then your doctor may start naltrexone treatment. If you do have these symptoms, they may repeat the test once daily until you don’t have symptoms.

If you’re wondering about withdrawal risks with naltrexone, talk with your doctor. They can explain how the medication works without posing a risk of withdrawal.

How naltrexone is taken

You’ll swallow naltrexone oral tablet, typically once per day. You can take the tablet with or without food. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a supervised dosing schedule for treating opioid use disorder. If so, they’ll discuss your dosage and how to take it.

The drugmaker doesn’t state whether the tablet can be chewed, split, or crushed. For this reason, it’s recommended that you swallow the tablets whole. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

Naltrexone coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for naltrexone when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of naltrexone

It’s important that you do not take more naltrexone oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

What to do if you take too much naltrexone

If you think you’ve taken too much naltrexone, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for naltrexone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of naltrexone oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take naltrexone oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• If I have side effects, will my dosage of naltrexone oral tablet be lowered?
• If I want to stop taking the medication, will I need to slowly stop my dosage of naltrexone oral tablet?
• Will I need a dosage adjustment of naltrexone oral tablet if I have severe kidney problems?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.