Pronunciation: METH-il-nal-TREX-one
Generic Name: Methylnaltrexone
Brand Name: Relistor
Relistor is used for:
Treating constipation caused by opioid medicines in certain patients. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Relistor is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist. It works by decreasing the effect of opioid medicines in the stomach and bowel, which helps to decrease constipation.
Do NOT use Relistor if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Relistor
- you have known or suspected stomach or bowel blockage
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Relistor:
Some medical conditions may interact with Relistor. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of kidney or liver problems, or you are on dialysis
- if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or swelling, or certain other stomach or bowel problems (eg, cancer, ulcer, Ogilvie syndrome)
- if you have a peritoneal (abdominal) catheter
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Relistor. However, no specific interactions with Relistor are known at this time.
Ask your health care provider if Relistor may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Relistor:
Use Relistor as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Relistor. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Relistor is given as an injection under the skin. A health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Relistor. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
- Relistor is colorless to pale yellow in color. Do not use Relistor if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.
- Inject Relistor right after you draw it into the syringe. If you are not able to inject the medicine right away, it may be stored in the syringe at room temperature for up to 24 hours. You do not need to protect the syringe from light during this time.
- Relistor may be injected into the upper arm, abdomen, or thigh. Do NOT inject Relistor into the upper arm if you are injecting yourself.
- Rotate injection sites as directed by your health care provider. Do not inject into scars, stretch marks, or areas where the skin is bruised, tender, red, or hard.
- Do not use Relistor more often than 1 time in a 24-hour period unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Do not use a vial of Relistor more than 1 time, even if there is medicine left in the vial.
- Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
- If you miss a dose of Relistor and you are still constipated, use it as soon as you remember. Continue to use it as directed by your doctor. Do not use more than 1 dose within a 24-hour period.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Relistor.
Important safety information:
- Relistor may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Relistor with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Do NOT use more than the recommended dose or use for longer than 4 months without checking with your doctor.
- Be sure to stay close to a restroom once you have injected Relistor. Most patients have a bowel movement within a few minutes to a few hours after they use it.
- Relistor should only be used by patients who take opioid pain medicines. Tell your doctor if you stop taking your opioid pain medicine.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Relistor before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Relistor should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Relistor while you are pregnant. It is not known if Relistor is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Relistor, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Relistor:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Dizziness; gas; mild diarrhea; nausea; stomach pain; sweating; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); fever or chills; new or worsening nausea or vomiting; severe, persistent, or worsening diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Relistor side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include severe dizziness, fatigue, fainting, or weakness.
Proper storage of Relistor:
Store Relistor at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not freeze. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Relistor out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Relistor, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Relistor is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Relistor. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Relistor resources
- Relistor Side Effects (in more detail)
- Relistor Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Relistor Support Group
- 7 Reviews for Relistor - Add your own review/rating
- Relistor Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Relistor Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Relistor Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Relistor Consumer Overview
Compare Relistor with other medications
- Constipation, Chronic
- Constipation, Drug Induced
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