NALTREXONE

55/100 · Moderate

Manufactured by Alkermes, Inc.

Naltrexone Adverse Events: Injection Site Reactions and Nausea Predominate

60,963 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About NALTREXONE

NALTREXONE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Alkermes, Inc.. Based on analysis of 60,963 FDA adverse event reports, NALTREXONE has a safety score of 55 out of 100. This moderate score indicates a notable volume of adverse event reports that patients and providers should be aware of. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for NALTREXONE include INJECTION SITE REACTION, INJECTION SITE PAIN, NAUSEA, ALCOHOLISM, INJECTION SITE MASS. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for NALTREXONE.

AI Safety Analysis

Naltrexone has a safety concern score of 55 out of 100, placing it in the elevated concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 60,963 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Alkermes, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Injection Site Reaction, Injection Site Pain, Nausea. Of classified reports, 28.1% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Injection site reactions, including pain and mass, are the most common adverse events.

Nausea is a frequent side effect, reported by 2094 cases. Serious adverse events, such as death and overdose, are reported but less frequent. Drug dependence and withdrawal syndrome are notable safety concerns.

Patients taking Naltrexone should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Naltrexone can cause injection site reactions and may interact with other drugs, leading to potential adverse effects. Always follow the prescribed administration method to minimize risks. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 55/100

Naltrexone received a safety concern score of 55/100 (elevated concern). This is based on a 28.1% serious event ratio across 29,776 classified reports. The score accounts for 60,963 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This elevated score indicates a notable proportion of serious adverse events and warrants careful monitoring.

Top Adverse Reactions

INJECTION SITE REACTION4,407 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN3,110 reports
NAUSEA2,094 reports
ALCOHOLISM1,942 reports
INJECTION SITE MASS1,894 reports
FATIGUE1,781 reports
PAIN1,626 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE1,498 reports
HEADACHE1,479 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL1,385 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,383 reports
DRUG DEPENDENCE1,369 reports
MALAISE1,239 reports
INSOMNIA1,141 reports
ANXIETY1,083 reports
DIZZINESS1,003 reports
VOMITING987 reports
DEPRESSION935 reports
INJECTION SITE INDURATION897 reports
DECREASED APPETITE811 reports
DIARRHOEA790 reports
THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE SHORTENED685 reports
NEEDLE ISSUE681 reports
ARTHRALGIA679 reports
TREMOR679 reports
INJECTION SITE SWELLING676 reports
OVERDOSE647 reports
WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME588 reports
SOMNOLENCE580 reports
DEATH556 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE552 reports
ASTHENIA551 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY544 reports
WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS532 reports
DRUG ABUSE500 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE481 reports
INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION463 reports
DYSPNOEA461 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER456 reports
ALCOHOL USE454 reports
PRODUCT ADMINISTERED AT INAPPROPRIATE SITE454 reports
HOSPITALISATION447 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS442 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS435 reports
BACK PAIN430 reports
INJECTION SITE ERYTHEMA419 reports
SUICIDAL IDEATION416 reports
DRUG DOSE OMISSION410 reports
DRUG WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME401 reports
RASH395 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED393 reports
FALL384 reports
DRUG SCREEN POSITIVE383 reports
MYALGIA377 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT357 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED325 reports
IRRITABILITY314 reports
PYREXIA312 reports
SUBSTANCE ABUSE309 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION307 reports
PRURITUS299 reports
NO ADVERSE EVENT294 reports
DRUG USE DISORDER276 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE273 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA269 reports
DEPRESSED MOOD268 reports
DRUG ADMINISTRATION ERROR266 reports
CHILLS265 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS265 reports
INJECTION SITE PRURITUS262 reports
INJECTION SITE BRUISING261 reports
ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT257 reports
SEIZURE255 reports
EUPHORIC MOOD252 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS251 reports
RESTLESSNESS250 reports
PNEUMONIA249 reports
TREATMENT NONCOMPLIANCE245 reports
INJECTION SITE WARMTH240 reports
MIGRAINE238 reports
INJECTION SITE ABSCESS235 reports
COUGH232 reports
INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS231 reports
PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION ERROR231 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN229 reports
COVID 19229 reports
INJECTION SITE DISCOMFORT229 reports
SURGERY227 reports
PARAESTHESIA224 reports
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION223 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED223 reports
CHEST PAIN218 reports
DEPENDENCE213 reports
CONSTIPATION212 reports
MENTAL DISORDER210 reports
STRESS210 reports
LETHARGY209 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY208 reports
AGITATION203 reports
DRUG INTERACTION203 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Injection site reactions (pain, mass, swelling) are the most frequent.
  • Nausea is a common gastrointestinal side effect.
  • Serious events like death and overdose are reported but less common.
  • Drug dependence and withdrawal syndrome are key safety signals.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 13,161, Female: 11,958, Unknown: 65. The most frequently reported age groups are age 25 (463 reports), age 37 (431 reports), age 32 (427 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 29,776 classified reports for NALTREXONE:

  • Serious: 8,366 reports (28.1%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 21,410 reports (71.9%)
Serious 28.1%Non-Serious 71.9%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male13,161 (52.3%)
Female11,958 (47.5%)
Unknown65 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 25463 reports
Age 37431 reports
Age 32427 reports
Age 30423 reports
Age 29421 reports
Age 33413 reports
Age 34413 reports
Age 36411 reports
Age 41408 reports
Age 46404 reports
Age 53400 reports
Age 39399 reports
Age 28398 reports
Age 44395 reports
Age 24394 reports
Age 31390 reports
Age 43386 reports
Age 38384 reports
Age 40379 reports
Age 50374 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Naltrexone can cause injection site reactions and may interact with other drugs, leading to potential adverse effects. Always follow the prescribed administration method to minimize risks.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Naltrexone, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include injection site reaction, injection site pain, nausea, alcoholism, injection site mass. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Follow the prescribed injection method to reduce the risk of injection site reactions. Report any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor naltrexone's safety profile. Healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Naltrexone?

The FDA has received approximately 60,963 adverse event reports associated with Naltrexone. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Naltrexone?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Naltrexone include Injection Site Reaction, Injection Site Pain, Nausea, Alcoholism, Injection Site Mass. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Injection Site Reaction (4,407 reports), Injection Site Pain (3,110 reports), Nausea (2,094 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Naltrexone.

What percentage of Naltrexone adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 29,776 classified reports, 8,366 (28.1%) were classified as serious and 21,410 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Naltrexone (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Naltrexone break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 13,161, Female: 11,958, Unknown: 65. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Naltrexone?

The most frequently reported age groups for Naltrexone adverse events are: age 25: 463 reports, age 37: 431 reports, age 32: 427 reports, age 30: 423 reports, age 29: 421 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Naltrexone?

The primary manufacturer associated with Naltrexone adverse event reports is Alkermes, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Naltrexone?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Naltrexone include: Fatigue, Pain, Drug Ineffective, Headache, Feeling Abnormal. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Naltrexone?

You can report adverse events from Naltrexone to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Naltrexone's safety score and what does it mean?

Naltrexone has a safety concern score of 55 out of 100 (elevated concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Injection site reactions, including pain and mass, are the most common adverse events.

What are the key safety signals for Naltrexone?

Key safety signals identified in Naltrexone's adverse event data include: Injection site reactions (pain, mass, swelling) are the most frequent.. Nausea is a common gastrointestinal side effect.. Serious events like death and overdose are reported but less common.. Drug dependence and withdrawal syndrome are key safety signals.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Naltrexone interact with other drugs?

Naltrexone can cause injection site reactions and may interact with other drugs, leading to potential adverse effects. Always follow the prescribed administration method to minimize risks. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Naltrexone.

What should patients know before taking Naltrexone?

Follow the prescribed injection method to reduce the risk of injection site reactions. Report any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider promptly.

Are Naltrexone side effects well-documented?

Naltrexone has 60,963 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Nausea is a frequent side effect, reported by 2094 cases. The volume of reports for Naltrexone reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Naltrexone?

The FDA continues to monitor naltrexone's safety profile. Healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to NALTREXONE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

OXYCODONEHYDROCODONEMETHADONEBUPRENORPHINEALBUTEROL
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.