Can You Stop Naltrexone Cold Turkey? Risks and Safety Tips

Naltrexone withdrawal or cold turkey is not possible, but using it with opioids may cause agonizing precipitated withdrawals. People searching for a way to stop naltrexone cold turkey first need to understand its function. Naltrexone is a non-opioid medication with a unique way of blocking the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids.¹ The purpose of this opioid agonist makes it a powerful resource in an addiction recovery plan, lowering cravings and avoiding relapse. 

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Can You Stop Naltrexone Cold Turkey? Answered

You don’t get any naltrexone side effects or cold turkey from quitting it. Being an opioid antagonist, it displaces the binding sites for other opioids. That means, if your body is not fully detoxed from opioids, it may cause severe precipitating withdrawal symptoms. 

Is It Safe to Stop Naltrexone Without Tapering?

Naltrexone discontinuation is not linked to withdrawal syndrome. Yet, upon stopping Naltrexone, it is important to receive assistance from a professional. On having precipitated opioid withdrawal on tapering Naltrexone, here is what you should do:

• Stop taking further Naltrexone injection or Naltrexone 50 mg film-coated tablets doses on noticing yellowing of eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, and white bowel movement.
• Consider getting an opioid addiction treatment plan (MAT) with alternative medications.
• Hydrate yourself.
• If the symptoms become intolerable, ask your doctor if they can provide α-2-agonists.

Expert Tip: Naltrexone in pregnancy may have dangerous side effects. So, if you are expecting, never self-administer this medication.

What Happens When You Stop Taking Naltrexone Suddenly?

By itself, Naltrexone does not cause any withdrawal symptoms. But it makes the body vulnerable to opioids. Having opioids in the system and taking naltrexone can trigger withdrawal. Precipitated withdrawal from Naltrexone is much more distressing than the normal withdrawals.² They start within 20-60 minutes of taking this medication and may last for about 4 hours, along with an ambulance ride to the ER. 

Can You Sleep off Withdrawal Symptoms From Opioids If You Take Naltrexone?

Withdrawing from opioids and alcohol, as well as using Naltrexone, is associated with sleep disturbances or insomnia.³ Therefore, it is unlikely to sleep off withdrawal symptoms if you have these drugs in your system.

Avoiding Precipitated Withdrawal While Taking Naltrexone

If you are finding an answer to can you stop Naltrexone cold turkey because of active opioid use, follow these tips to prevent precipitated withdrawal:

• Consider Detox–  Before starting it, the best precautionary measure is to make sure that your body is clear of opioids. 
• Avoid Opioids– Don’t take methadone or buprenorphine as maintenance treatment for OUD. (Especially, if these are not prescribed in your recovery plan)
• Withdrawal Evaluation– If you are facing an ongoing opioid withdrawal timeline.
• Signs of Illicit Opioid Use– Check if you test positive in urine testing.
• Waiting Period– Wait for a week to fourteen days after opioid cessation before using Naltrexone.

Point to Remember

Understand what to avoid when taking Naltrexone and make your prescriber review the new medication. Cough medications with codeine, pain relievers with opioids, supplements, and antidepressants cause Naltrexone interactions, leading to side effects. 

Safe Way to Stop Using Naltrexone

Checklist For Stopping Naltrexone Safely

After getting the answer to Can you stop Naltrexone cold turkey, if you are still apprehensive about the potential adverse effects, follow this checklist:

1. Ask your doctor to adjust your plan 
2. Discuss your entire opioid and Naltrexone use history 
3. Update your doctor on the symptoms you notice (common side effects can be gastrointestinal problems and muscle cramps)
4. Take antispasmic medications for involuntary muscle movements
5. Get antidiarrheal medicines for any gut issues
6. Avoid using naltrexone if you are using opioids, even in small quantities 
7. Follow the exact instructions on stopping naltrexone provided by a care team

Related Topics: What to avoid while taking Naltrexone, Naltrexone Over The Counter, Naltrexone Interactions

Stopping Naltrexone Safely With Online Naltrexone Doctors At ChoicePoint

“Can you stop Naltrexone cold turkey?” is a query that reflects the worries of a person struggling with opioid and alcohol dependence. Dealing with opioid withdrawal alone in such situations may result in settling for failure. If someone consumes opioids in heavy doses to lessen the effects of Naltrexone, there is a risk of coma. Getting in touch with DEA-certified doctors for a Naltrexone prescription can help you make an informed decision. It also:

• Encourages compliance in the phase of detoxification 
• Minimizes relapse risks
• Takes care of withdrawal symptoms 
• Receive positive effects from the medication

Book an appointment and connect with our clinical staff for Naltrexone dosage guidelines or medically supervised personalized treatment plans for OUD and AUD today!

Popular Queries Related to Naltrexone Cold Turkey

If you are searching for can you stop Naltrexone cold turkey, you might find these answers useful:

1. Just got my Naltrexone prescription, and I’m wondering if it would be wise to just go cold turkey?

If you are taking Naltrexone and alcohol, you don’t need to suddenly stop consuming alcohol. Basically, what happen when you drink on Naltrexone, it doesn’t do anything for cognitive impairment from alcohol. It may block the buzz, but you will still feel drunk. However, if the Naltrexone prescription online is for OUD, then wait until the opioids are eliminated from your body.

2. What are low-dose naltrexone withdrawal symptoms?

If you have been taking low dose Naltrexone for pain management, you don’t need to worry about the withdrawal symptoms. Only with opioids in your system, you may have withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, sweating, nausea, and flu-like symptoms.

3. Are precipitated withdrawals from Naltrexone stronger than taking Subutex too early?

Yes, Naltrexone is a pure opioid antagonist, whereas Subutex is a partial antagonist. Due to this reason, Subutex withdrawal is less severe than precipitated withdrawal.

4. Do you need to slowly taper off LDN, or can you just stop cold turkey?

If you want to stop LDN, there is usually no need to taper down slowly. You will only get side effects or cold turkey if you have been taking opioids with it. In such situations, take advice from a professional.

5. I’m trying to quit drinking & have been having drug cravings. Will I have any opioid withdrawal symptoms from taking Naltrexone even if I haven’t taken opioids in a year?

No, if someone doesn’t have opioids in their system, they won’t have withdrawals from taking Naltrexone.

6. How Long Does it Take to Get Naltrexone Out of Your System?

How long does Naltrexone stay in your system depends on the metabolism of your body. For complete elimination from the body, Naltrexone takes around 96 hours.

References

1. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Chapter 4—Oral Naltrexone [Internet]. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2009. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64042/
2. Iovcheva M, Zlateva S, Asparuhova M. PRECIPITATED WITHDRAWAL REACTION TO OPIATES IN CASES OF IMPROPER USE OF NALTREXONE. J of IMAB [Internet]. 2007;13(1). Available from: https://www.journal-imab-bg.org/statii-07/vol07_1_75-77str.pdf
3. Gossop M, Bradley B. Insomnia among addicts during supervised withdrawal from opiates: A comparison of oral methadone and electrostimulation. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 1984 Mar;13(2):191–8.