Methylnaltrexone Bromide, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection to treat constipation caused by narcotic pain medicines. Use it exactly as directed. Do not take more than one dose in a 24-hour period.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: mu-opioid receptor antagonist, treats constipation

Generic and brand names: methylnaltrexone bromide, injection; Relistor

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat constipation caused by narcotic pain medicines when other medicines for constipation have not worked well enough.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• A blockage in the intestines, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or cancer of the stomach or colon
• Kidney disease
• Ulcers

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking this medicine during pregnancy may cause withdrawal symptoms in your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine because it may cause withdrawal symptoms in your baby.

How do I use it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Be sure you know when to use the medicine and how much medicine you should use. If you are not sure how to use this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

The shots are given just under the skin. Sometimes you can give yourself these shots from kits or have someone at home give them to you. Use this medicine exactly as directed. Do not use more or less or use it longer than prescribed. Depending on your condition, you may use this medicine once a day or once every other day, but no more than 1 dose in a 24-hour period.

You should stop taking this medicine if you stop taking narcotic pain medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if your pain medicine changes.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: dizziness, fainting, sweating, chills, runny nose.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine works quickly, usually causing a bowel movement within a few minutes to a few hours of taking a dose. Stay close to a toilet after using this medicine.

Do not take any laxatives during treatment with this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves. Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery until you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are using this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Severe or continuous diarrhea; new or worsening nausea and vomiting; sudden, continuous, or severe stomach pain; symptoms of narcotic withdrawal (sweating, chills, diarrhea, stomach pain, anxiety, yawning).

Other: Mild diarrhea, stomach cramps, mild nausea, dizziness, gas, flushing, mild irritation at the site of the shot.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Bupropion/naltrexone (Contrave)
• Morphine/Naltrexone (Embeda)
• Naloxegol (Movantik)
• Naloxone (Narcan)
• Naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Do not freeze this medicine. Keep the medicine in its original containers. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.