Dear Dr. Eskapa,
I just got my prescription for Naltrexone and both the Nurse Practitioner and the insert with the medication said to carry ID that you are taking this drug. The Nurse Practitioner said something about needing it in case I had to go to the emergency room, or if I were to have any type of surgery. I looked online to understand more about that connection, but did not see anything. I just wondered what the concern would be for medical personnel to know that I take Naltrexone? I guess I should have asked her to be more specific, but it sounded like anesthesia would be interfered with somehow? Thank you.

I'm going to break the rules and answer this for you. I am doing so because I see this as an important issue that should be addressed immediately upon starting Naltrexone. I don't want you to wait until Dr. Eskapa drops by.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist - it blocks the actions of opioids in your brain. Many (most?) painkillers routinely administered to accident victims are opioids - they won't work if you're on Naltrexone. That means if you're in a wreck and they give you pain medicine you'll still be in pain (and they might not know it)!

There are other, non-opioid, medications they can give you, but only if they know to do it. Hence the need for a medical alert.

I have a label attached to the back of my driver's license that says: Medical Alert: Naltrexone HCL, 50mg/Day

RV

I printed my label with a little "Brother" label printer but I might order some labels from a company my wife used to get labels for my daughter's bottles and sippy cups. The labels are incredibly durable and can go through the dishwasher unscathed.

Another option... This site http://www.medids.com/free-id.php allows you to enter all of your information and it creates a medical ID card for you. You can print it out and take it to Kinko's to laminate it. They have self-service laminators - or at least mine does - and they are inexpensive.

N101CS,
Thanks for all the information. That was really helpful!

In the UK Nalorex the branded naltrexone 50 mg comes along with a card for the patient to fill out and carry at all times informing potential medical professionals that the patient is on naltrexone. This is a precaution in case the patient requires an opiate such as morphine (after an accident or coronary for instance) ... if on naltrexone the opiate (morphine) will not be effective and there are other measures that can be used for anaesthesia or pain control before the naltrexone is stopped.

That was a really good link! I did it today for both myself and my husband. Really easy to make and print. I feel so much better now with this behind my license THANK YOU!.

N101CS,

Suggest you Sticky this thread someplace on the forums. This is VERY good thread that should be read by everyone.

I am bumping this thread as it is VERY valuable and easy to use.

This is really great info.

As I suggested elsewhere, we really should have a "Do's and Don'ts of NAL" or similar posted.

I'm going to print the In Case of Emergency Card today.