How Long Does Revia Stay In Your System?

A single dose of Revia will block the pharmacologic effects of opioids for periods as long as 24 hours. But, how long does it stay in the system? Read here.

4
minute read
Reviewed by: Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. Dr. Juan Goecke, M.D.

Revia is the brand name for a medication called naltrexone hydrochloride, which is an opioid antagonist. Used in the treatment of alcohol dependence and opioid drug dependence, it works by competitively binding to the opioid receptors in the brain.

A single dose of Revia will block the pharmacological effects of opioids for periods as long as 24 hours. In this article we explain how long Revia stays in your body, how it’s metabolized, and how it’s eliminated. We invite you to keep reading and if you are left with any questions, you can post them in the comments section at the end. We try our best to provide a personal and prompt response to all legitimate inquiries.

How Do You Take Revia?

For people in addiction treatment, alcohol and drug alcohol cravings create great difficulties. Craving are the powerfully strong desire and perceived need for an experience. Doctors prescribe Revia to patients who can benefit the relief from cravings, and allow them to focus on the other parts of recovery such as counseling, talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, educational sessions, applying new lifestyle changes and embracing new positive behaviors.

First of all, doctors should check for presence of alcohol or opiate drugs in your system. Any opiate drugs (illicit or prescription) should not be used for 10-14 days and alcohol should not be used at least a 7-10 days before initiating Revia treatment. Your doctor should also do a naloxone challenge test to see how you will react to the naltrexone from Revia.

1. Patients who are in treatment for opioid dependence are usually started at 50mg of Revia, but the dose is later adjusted to the patients needs and response to treatment. In fact, Revia can be given on several different dosing schedules.

2. Patients in rehab for alcoholism are usually prescribed the standard Revia dose, which is 50mg a day. This dose has supported alcohol abstinence, prevented relapse and decreased alcohol consumption in many patients so far. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, we do know that Revia doesn’t cause a sudden and adverse reaction if alcohol is administered. The general 50mg dose can successfully block desire for alcohol to allow people to focus on psychotherapy.

Main Revia Uses

We already mentioned that Revia is prescribed along with appropriate addiction treatment. It’s important to understand that this is not a pill that miraculously cures addiction. Here is what Revia can do for patients in recovery:

  • Block the need and cravings for alcohol and opioids drugs
  • Help patients work on underlying issues that exacerbated abusing opiates and alcohol
  • Lower the risk of relapse in recovering patients
  • Obstruct the pleasurable and rewarding feelings produced by alcohol or opiate drugs in the brain
  • Prevent the excessive release of the neurotransmitters in the brain
  • Provide time for patients to concentrate on their treatment and engage in pleasurable activities

Peak Levels And Half Life Of Revia

After oral administration, Revia is quickly and almost completely absorbed in the body. Almost 96% of the administered dose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. After undergoing metabolism, some naltrexone is left unchanged, and another active metabolite 6-β-naltrexol is formed. Within one hour of dosing, peak plasma concentrations are detected for both naltrexone and 6-β-naltrexol. The mean half-life elimination period for naltrexone is 4 hours, while 6-β-naltrexol has an elimination half-life of around 13 hours.

Revia Drug Testing: How Long Does Revia Stay In The Body?

Does Revia cause addiction?

No, Revia is a safe medication which uses pharmacological means to improve the chances for successful alcoholism or drug addiction treatment. Revia is also not likely to be abused since it doesn’t produce euphoric effects or a feeling of high.

Revia may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including drug tests). If you are taking Revia and are drug-tested, it may possibly cause false positive or false negative test results. Make sure the laboratory personnel and doctors know you are receiving Revia treatment. Also, while a patient is on Revia, doctors should run regular tests to monitor the health and functioning of the heart, liver, kidneys, etc.

Problems With Revia

Patients need a doctor’s clearance to initiate Revia treatment. This medication can really help you concentrate on your recovery process and activities, because cravings can lead to relapse (if left untreated). However, there are some cases in which Revia is not recommended to be used. You should not start using this medication if:

1. You are still taking opioid medications or using illicit opiate drugs or drinking alcohol.
2. You just stopped taking drugs or drinking alcohol (you must be off these substances for at least 7-10 days).
3. You are diagnosed with an acute or severe liver or kidney disease.
4. You are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant; nursing your baby or thinking of breastfeeding.
5. You fail the naloxone challenge test done by your doctor or test positive for opiates.

Revia In The System Side-Effects

Before initiating Revia treatment, your doctor will inform you about the possible side-effects. Remember that it is important to call your doctor and report any unusual or persistent effects from Revia. Here is a list of some of the most common Revia side-effects:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Anxiety
  • Chest pain
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Drowsiness
  • Fluctuation in energy levels
  • Headaches
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness
  • Problems sleeping or insomnia
  • Restlessness
  • Skin rashes

Revia In The System Questions

If you have any other specific questions, please post them in the comments section below. We try to provide a personal and prompt response to all legitimate inquiries.

Reference Sources: FDA: Revia (naltrexone hydrochloride tablets)
OASAS: Naltrexone (ReVia)
MedlinePlus: Naltrexone
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
Medical Reviewers
Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. is a general surgeon practicing women's focused medici...
Dr. Goecke is a medical doctor and general surgeon with personal experience of...

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a licensed medical professional.

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