Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I start taking Naltrexone pills at home?

Question

Hello doctor,

If I take Naltrexone pills at home, will I be able to detoxify faster by taking an 8 mg Suboxone tablet daily compared to a low-dose Naltrexone tablet? For how long will I have to take these pills?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

If you take tablet Naltrexone alone without tablet Buprenorphine, then this will result in immediate withdrawal, and this can land you in the hospital. If you are not on a high dose, then compared to low-dose tablet Naltrexone, this will help. Naltrexone will help to reduce craving and will prevent relapse. Tapering from drugs should be slow, and this will help in maintaining the drug-free phase.

Hope this is helpful. Kindly follow up for more queries.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist drug. This drug occupies all opioid receptors so any opioid drug in body will have no pleasure actions like Buprenorphine or any other drug of abuse. Onset of action is about half an hour so the drug will show effects immediately. In our out-patient-department, we advise patients to stop any kind of opioids for at least a week before advising them to take Naltrexone, because this might precipitate significant withdrawal symptoms. Hope this is helpful.

Regards.