HomeNaltrexone Side-effects - Naltrexone Implant Clinic UK/EU

Naltrexone side-effects and complications with Naltrexone implant can occur in about 8% of cases.

Primarily, it is Naltrexone implant rejection as a foreign body.

Adverse Reactions and Naltrexone Side-Effects

The Naltrexone implant, as an active pharmacological and allergenic agent, may cause aseptic, allergic, and non-purulent tissue reactions. Physical activity and movements that apply muscular pressure or friction on the implant can cause irritation, inflammation, and even rejection of the foreign body. Sports, gym workouts, swimming, cycling, alcohol consumption, hot baths, and saunas are the most common risk factors. The most common symptoms of reaction to Naltrexone chip are redness, swelling, local discomfort. Sometimes itching and rash.

If such reactions to Naltrexone implant are not stopped timely and they continue to develop, a small channel could be formed in a few days. Then a small opening in the implant site will occur, and tissue secretions (discharge) leaking might appear from the wound.

This shows that the implant reaction has started a few days earlier, which had to be treated and stopped immediately. The opened wound is a gateway for secondary infection. The bacteria from the skin can easily enter the area.

Treatment of the Naltrexone implant side-effects

However, even if all this has already happened, treatment can be very effective: anti-inflammatory medicines, anti-allergic medications, and especially steroid therapy. In addition to this, antibiotic intake is necessary as the wound is opened and wet. This is an open door for infection which needs to be prevented. A patient must take antibiotics for a certain period.

With urgent proper treatment, in most cases, the reaction of implant rejection will gradually withdraw. Swelling and redness will pass. The wound will tighten up, and the opening will close. A patient will carry their implant normally. It's important for patients to promptly, from the very first day of the occurrence of any symptoms mentioned above, contact a local medical practitioner as well as our implant specialist. Preventive therapy will follow. By doing so, allergy to the implant can disappear in a few days.

Besides the local issues, a general allergic reaction might occur with spread skin rash and itching. Long term special treatment has to be started the very same day.

Having more questions about Naltrexone side-effects?

Are there any other Naltrexone implant side-effects?

Besides the tissue aseptic complications the real primary infection at the implant site may also occur accompanied by growing swelling, pain, high body temperature and high leukocytes in blood counts. That can lead to wound dehiscence and sometimes bad odor.

In some cases, wound dressing and stitches removal are performed improperly, or patients touch or scratch the stitched area.

Considering that the patient’s immune system is weakened during the first couple of months of abstinence, a wound infection can become a serious problem. This requires immediate diagnosis and treatment: antibacterial therapy and antiseptic wound works. Proper wound dressing, and proper medications can stop the suppurative-septic reaction. Afterwards, the condition can gradually normalize.

Naltrexone side-effects UK

Most common Naltrexone side-effects

One may experience different sensations and conditions after using Naltrexone. More often if taking a 50 mg Naltrexone tablet a day. And much less often with implanted Depot Naltrexone pellets, because the therapeutic blood concentrations are significantly less and safe.

Most side effects from naltrexone itself tend to appear within the first few hours after taking the medication. People may feel dizzy, tired, weak, or sleepy, and some notice yawning, stretching in the arms or legs, or a general need to stretch the body. Other possible effects include loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, goosebumps, anxiety, mood changes, or mild confusion, trembling or shaking of the hands or feet, a fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse, and a frequent urge to urinate. In most cases these symptoms fade within a few hours or a couple of days as the body adjusts to the medicine, although some patients may need a little longer.

If there are even small amounts of opioids still present in the body, a reaction to naltrexone can start quite quickly—usually within 5 to 15 minutes. This may cause restlessness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, waves of cold sensation or chills, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle or bone aches. These symptoms are related to what is called precipitated opioid withdrawal. Although the experience can be unpleasant, it typically settles on its own within a few hours and usually does not require medical treatment.

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Naltrexone implant procedure

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