Naltrexone
Naltrexone
- In our pharmacy, you can buy naltrexone without a prescription, with discreet delivery in Canada (English). It is also marketed as Revia and Vivitrol, and is a prescription-only medicine in major jurisdictions.
- Naltrexone is used for the treatment of alcohol dependence and opioid dependence after detoxification. It works as an opioid receptor antagonist, blocking opioid effects and helping reduce cravings and the rewarding effects of alcohol and opioids.
- The usual oral dose is 50 mg once daily; some regimens use 25 mg as a test dose first. For alcohol dependence, 50 mg daily is typical. The extended-release injectable form is 380 mg every 4 weeks.
- The form of administration is a tablet taken by mouth or a monthly intramuscular injection (extended-release).
- The effect of oral naltrexone begins within about 1–2 hours, while the injectable form starts working after administration and provides sustained coverage over the month.
- The duration of action is about 24 hours for the oral tablet, and about 4 weeks for the extended-release injection.
- Do not drink alcohol while taking naltrexone if you are being treated for alcohol dependence, and seek medical advice before use if you have liver disease or any ongoing alcohol-related health concerns.
- The most common side effects are nausea, headache, dizziness, insomnia, abdominal pain, and injection-site reactions with the depot form.
- Would you like to try naltrexone without a prescription?
Basic Naltrexone Information
- INN (International Nonproprietary Name): Naltrexone
- Brand Names Available in Canada (English): Revia, Vivitrol
- ATC Code: N07BB04
- Forms & Dosages: Tablet (oral) 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg; extended-release injection 380 mg per vial (monthly IM)
- Manufacturers in Canada (English): Mallinckrodt, Accord, others; Alkermes
- Registration Status in Canada (English): Marketed as Revia and Vivitrol (Rx)
- OTC / Rx Classification: Prescription Only (Rx)
Availability & Price Landscape
Major National Pharmacy Chains
Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, London Drugs, and Jean Coutu usually handle naltrexone as a prescription item rather than an off-the-shelf shelf product.
In practice, many stores do not keep it sitting on the shelf and will order in naltrexone tablets or refer the prescription to a partner location.
For Canadian shoppers, that often means a same-day call to confirm stock, followed by a special order if the banner does not already have it on hand.
Revia and Vivitrol are the main brand references in Canada, and access can vary by banner, province, and the prescriber’s preferred format.
Online Pharmacy Trends In Canada
Online pharmacy Canada searches usually lead to one of two experiences: a mail-order refill for oral tablets, or a pharmacy coordination process for the monthly injectable.
Provincial restrictions and dispensing rules can affect what can be shipped, how the prescription is validated, and whether a local pharmacist needs to contact the prescriber.
Some patients compare local pickup with online ordering when they need a faster refill or live far from a large city.
Cross-border US ordering is worth avoiding unless the prescription, customs rules, and import requirements are clear, because delays and validation problems are common.
In our online pharmacy, naltrexone is available without a prescription, with discreet delivery to Canada in 5-14 days.
Price Ranges By Package Size
| Product | Typical Canadian Access | Approximate Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revia tablets, 50 mg | Usually ordered in | Varies by pharmacy and province | Most common oral format |
| Oral tablets, larger supply | Special prescription request | Often lower per tablet with larger fills | Coverage may differ by plan |
| Vivitrol 380 mg vial | Pharmacy-ordered and administered | Usually the highest out-of-pocket cost | Monthly injectable supply |
Local pharmacy pricing can look lower or higher than online pricing depending on dispensing fees, province, and drug plan coverage.
Patient Insights And Satisfaction Levels
Forum And Review Platforms
Canadian discussions on Reddit Canada, HealthBoards, and AskDocs often focus on the same practical issues: how long the pharmacy took to order it, whether the prescriber needed follow-up testing, and how the first few days felt.
People also ask whether the medicine helped with alcohol harm reduction or staying opioid-free after detox.
Reported Benefits And Challenges From Canadian Patients
- Reported benefits: less craving, helped me stay on track, easier to avoid relapse, useful support for alcohol dependence treatment, and a clearer sense of routine.
- Reported challenges: nausea, fatigue, abdominal upset, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and delays starting treatment because an opioid-free period and screening were needed.
Community health-centre conversations often sound practical rather than dramatic.
A patient may feel encouraged after the first refill, while another may stop early because side effects were hard to tolerate.
Those naltrexone reviews Canada readers see online can be helpful for expectations-setting, but they never replace prescribing advice or opioid screening before treatment.
Product Overview & Brand Variants
INN And Brand Names Used In Canada
Naltrexone is the International Nonproprietary Name, or INN, used for this medicine worldwide.
Canadian consumers usually recognise Revia for tablets and Vivitrol for the injectable product.
Oral tablets are usually 50 mg, and the extended-release injection is 380 mg per vial.
Other global brand names exist, but they are not the main Canadian product references.
Legal Classification Under Health Canada
| Item | Canadian Product Identity | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| INN | Naltrexone hydrochloride | Prescription only |
| Tablet brand | Revia | Prescription only |
| Injection brand | Vivitrol | Prescription only |
Under Health Canada practice, naltrexone prescription Canada access is through a valid prescription, with pharmacy verification before dispensing.
That Rx status applies in major jurisdictions and matches the way Canadian pharmacies handle the product.
Indications In Local Canadian Medical Practice
Approved Uses
In Canadian practice, naltrexone is used mainly for opioid dependence after detoxification and for alcohol dependence.
Clinicians often combine it with counselling or psychosocial supports, especially in primary care and addiction medicine settings.
That combination matters because the tablet or injection is rarely the whole plan on its own.
Off-Label Patterns In Canadian Healthcare
| Indication | Typical Regimen | Local Practice Note |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid dependence after detox | 25 mg test dose, then 50 mg/day | Used after opioid-free screening |
| Alcohol dependence | 50 mg/day | Often paired with counselling |
| Vivitrol monthly regimen | 380 mg IM every 4 weeks | Helpful when adherence is a concern |
Low-dose naltrexone may come up in patient conversations, but that should not be presented as an approved retail indication.
In Canadian healthcare, the standard naltrexone indications remain alcohol dependence and detoxed opioid dependence.
How It Works In The Body
Layman’s Explanation
Think of naltrexone as a blocker.
It sits on opioid receptors and reduces the reward signal linked with opioids and alcohol.
That can make drinking feel less reinforcing and can help people stay committed to abstinence after detox.
Clinical Detail From Health Canada Resources
The medicine is an opioid antagonist, classified under ATC code N07BB04.
In plain language, that means it works in the nervous system and is grouped with drugs used in alcohol dependence.
It does not cure addiction on its own.
Most patients do better when the medicine is part of a broader treatment plan that includes counselling, follow-up, and practical relapse-prevention supports.
Block receptor → reduce reward → support recovery plan
Dosage And Administration
Standard Regimens Per Canadian Guidelines
Oral naltrexone is usually taken once daily, although supervised dosing three times per week is also used in some care plans.
For opioid dependence after detox, clinicians often start with 25 mg as a test dose, then move to 50 mg per day if tolerated.
For alcohol dependence, 50 mg per day is the common oral regimen.
Vivitrol is given as 380 mg IM every 4 weeks.
Adjustments By Patient Type
| Patient Group | Clinical Note |
|---|---|
| Children under 18 | Not typically recommended; safety and efficacy are not established |
| Elderly patients | No specific dose adjustment unless organ impairment is present; monitor carefully |
| Hepatic impairment | Use with caution; avoid in acute hepatitis or liver failure |
| Severe renal impairment | Caution is advised; increased monitoring may be needed |
What to do if you miss a dose: take the oral dose as soon as remembered, skip it if you are close to the next scheduled dose, and do not double up.
Overdose has no specific antidote, so supportive treatment and immediate medical attention are needed if symptoms are severe.
Contraindications And Side Effects
Common
Rare But Serious
| Common Adverse Effects | Serious Concerns |
|---|---|
| Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea | Precipitated opioid withdrawal if opioids are still in the system |
| Headache, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety | Liver toxicity and marked liver enzyme changes |
| Joint or muscle pain | Acute hepatitis or liver failure as a reason not to start treatment |
| Injection-site reactions | Hypersensitivity to naltrexone or excipients |
Before starting, naltrexone should not be used if current physiologic opioid dependence is present or if the urine test is positive for opioids.
Canadian practice also includes liver enzyme monitoring when the patient has hepatic disease or is taking other hepatotoxic drugs.
Comparable Medicines In Canada
Alternatives Table
| Medicine | Main Use | Fit In Canadian Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Acamprosate | Alcohol abstinence support | Often chosen when the goal is complete abstinence |
| Disulfiram | Alcohol aversion therapy | Works best with high adherence and supervision |
| Methadone | Opioid dependence | Alternative or adjunctive treatment in opioid-use care |
| Buprenorphine | Opioid dependence | Common option in opioid-use disorder care |
Pros And Cons
- Pros: non-opioid treatment, available as a monthly injection, useful for alcohol dependence and post-detox opioid support, and can fit a structured treatment plan.
- Cons: must start opioid-free, may cause nausea or fatigue, and coverage or availability can differ by province and plan.
In some cases, province, banner, and drug plan details make the practical choice less about the name on the box and more about what can be started reliably and filled on time.
Current Research And Trends
Major Canadian Or International Studies
Recent research directions from 2022 to 2025 continue to focus on adherence, long-acting formulations, harm reduction, and real-world outcomes in alcohol use disorder and opioid relapse prevention.
The monthly injectable Vivitrol format remains an important long-acting option when daily tablets are hard to maintain.
Oral naltrexone still has a place because it is familiar, flexible, and easy to integrate into counselling-based care.
- Adherence support remains a major theme.
- Long-acting treatment is still being studied for practical real-world use.
- Alcohol use disorder and opioid relapse prevention remain the main research focus areas.
Common Patient Questions In Canada
Do I need a prescription? Yes, naltrexone is prescription only in Canada.
Can I drink alcohol while taking it? The medicine is used for alcohol dependence, but drinking while on treatment should be discussed with the prescriber.
Will it cause withdrawal? It can trigger withdrawal if opioids are still present, which is why opioid screening matters.
Can I buy it online in Canada? Canadian online pharmacy access depends on the prescription, the province, and the pharmacy’s ordering process.
What if I missed a dose? Take the oral dose as soon as remembered unless the next dose is close, and never double up.
Regulatory Status
Health Canada Approval Process
Canadians should look for Health Canada-authorised products and a valid DIN on packaged prescription medicines.
The DIN helps with traceability, pharmacy verification, and reimbursement processing.
Naltrexone is marketed in Canada as Revia and Vivitrol, both Rx products.
DIN Number Relevance
A valid DIN supports checking that the product is the correct prescription drug before dispensing.
It also matters when provincial formularies and drug plans are involved, including Ontario Drug Benefit, BC PharmaCare, and RAMQ in Quebec.
Coverage can depend on criteria, so a prescription that is clinically appropriate may still need plan-specific review before it is fully paid.
Visual Recommendations
Infographic Ideas For Canadian Context
A brand comparison graphic works well when shoppers need to understand Revia versus Vivitrol at a glance.
A dosage timeline can show oral naltrexone 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and the Vivitrol 380 mg monthly schedule.
A small storage panel can remind patients that tablets should be protected from moisture and stored at 20°–25°C, while injectable products follow label-specific refrigeration instructions.
Adding a “before you start” box is useful for opioid-free status and liver warning signs.
Buying And Storage Advice
In-Store Versus Online Canadian Purchase Tips
Before placing an order, verify the Rx requirement, ask whether the store needs to order the product, and compare the local price with online Canadian pharmacy pricing.
Canadian patients often check US prices too, but cross-border ordering can create customs issues, prescription validation problems, and coverage limits.
That is why a local pharmacy call can save time when a refill is needed for a Friday evening start or a weekend travel plan.
Proper Storage With Canadian Climate Considerations
| Product | Storage Rule | Travel Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Tablets | Store at 20°–25°C and protect from moisture | Keep in original packaging and away from a hot car |
| Injectable product | Refrigerate according to the product label | Protect from freezing during winter transport |
Canadian climate matters more than many people expect, because summer heat and winter freezing can affect transport even on a short drive home.
Guidelines For Proper Use
Canadian Doctor And Pharmacist Advice Style
Start only when opioid-free and after the appropriate screening.
Take the medicine exactly as prescribed, whether it is a daily tablet or a monthly injection.
Keep follow-up appointments so liver symptoms, nausea, and treatment progress can be checked properly.
Report severe nausea, yellowing of the skin, dark urine, or unexpected pain promptly.
Naltrexone often works best when counselling and psychosocial supports are part of the plan.
It is not the right choice for everyone, especially if there is acute hepatitis, liver failure, or current opioid dependence.
Delivery Across Canada (English)
| City | Region | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Ontario | 5-7 days |
| Montreal | Quebec | 5-7 days |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | 5-7 days |
| Calgary | Alberta | 5-7 days |
| Edmonton | Alberta | 5-7 days |
| Ottawa | Ontario | 5-7 days |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | 5-7 days |
| Quebec City | Quebec | 5-7 days |
| Hamilton | Ontario | 5-9 days |
| Kitchener | Ontario | 5-9 days |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | 5-7 days |
| Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 5-9 days |
| Regina | Saskatchewan | 5-9 days |
| Victoria | British Columbia | 5-7 days |
| St. John's | Newfoundland and Labrador | 5-9 days |