Description
Naloxegol is used to treat constipation that is caused by opioids (narcotic pain medicines) in adults with long-lasting pain that is not caused by cancer, or in patients with long-lasting pain caused by a previous cancer or its treatment who do not need weekly increases in opioid dosage.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of naloxegol in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of naloxegol in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Boceprevir
- Ceritinib
- Clarithromycin
- Cobicistat
- Darunavir
- Idelalisib
- Indinavir
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Levoketoconazole
- Lonafarnib
- Mifepristone
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Nirmatrelvir
- Paritaprevir
- Posaconazole
- Ribociclib
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Troleandomycin
- Tucatinib
- Voriconazole
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Abiraterone Acetate
- Abiraterone Acetate, Micronized
- Adagrasib
- Alvimopan
- Aprepitant
- Atazanavir
- Avacopan
- Carbamazepine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Crizotinib
- Dabrafenib
- Diltiazem
- Dronedarone
- Duvelisib
- Enzalutamide
- Erythromycin
- Etravirine
- Fedratinib
- Fexinidazole
- Fluconazole
- Fosaprepitant
- Fosnetupitant
- Fosphenytoin
- Imatinib
- Ivosidenib
- Larotrectinib
- Lefamulin
- Lenacapavir
- Letermovir
- Lorlatinib
- Lumacaftor
- Mavacamten
- Methylnaltrexone
- Miconazole
- Mitotane
- Nalorphine
- Naloxone
- Naltrexone
- Netupitant
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.
- Grapefruit Juice
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Crohn's disease or
- Diverticulitis or
- Ogilvie's syndrome or
- Peptic ulcer or
- Stomach or bowel cancer—May increase risk for more serious side effects.
- Kidney disease, moderate to severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
- Patients at increased risk of stomach blockage or
- Stomach or bowel blockage, known or suspected—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
Proper Use
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Take this medicine on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before the first meal of the day or 2 hours after a meal.
Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Stop taking other laxatives before starting treatment with naloxegol. Also, you should stop taking naloxegol if you have stopped taking narcotic pain medicines.
If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, you may crush and mix it with 120 milliliters (mL) (4 ounces) of water and drink it right away. Refill the glass with the same amount of water, stir, and drink it right away to make sure you get the full dose of this medicine.
If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, it may also be given through a nasogastric tube:
- Draw up 30 mL (1 ounce) of water into a 60 mL syringe and flush it down the nasogastric tube.
- Crush the tablet and mix it with 60 mL (2 ounces) of water.
- Draw up the mixture using the 60 mL syringe and give it through the tube.
- Add 60 mL of water to the mixture and use the same syringe to flush the tube for any remaining medicine to get the full dose of this medicine.
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For constipation caused by opioids:
- Adults—25 milligrams (mg) once a day in the morning for at least 4 weeks (together with narcotic pain medicines). Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For constipation caused by opioids:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.
Do not take this medicine together with clarithromycin, itraconazole, or ketoconazole. Using these medicines together may cause or worsen opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, chills, diarrhea, irritability, stomach pain, sweating, and yawning.
Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain or diarrhea while you are using this medicine.
This medicine may cause a tear (perforation) in your stomach or bowels. Check with your doctor right away if you have a severe stomach pain that does not go away.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
- Anxiety
- chills
- diarrhea
- increased sweating
- irritability
- stomach pain
- yawning
Incidence not known
- Bloody, black or tarry stools
- heartburn
- indigestion
- nausea
- severe abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or burning
- trouble breathing
- vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds, severe and continuous
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Bloated
- excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
- full feeling
- passing of gas
Less common
- Headache
- vomiting
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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