Alvimopan

What Is Alvimopan?

Alvimopan reduces certain side effects of narcotic medicines that are often used to prevent pain caused by surgery. Narcotic medicine can cause stomach pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. These side effects can delay recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
Alvimopan helps prevent these side effects without reducing the pain-relieving effects of the narcotic.
Alvimopan is used to help restore normal digestive functioning after surgery to remove a portion of your intestine.
Alvimopan is available only under a special program for short-term use (no more than 15 doses). You must be registered in the program and understand the risks and benefits of taking this medicine.
Alvimopan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not use alvimopan if you have severe liver or kidney disease, or if you have used a narcotic medicine for more than 7 days in a row just before your surgery.
Alvimopan is available only under a special program for short-term use.
Some people had heart attacks while taking alvimopan long-term during clinical studies. It is not clear whether alvimopan is the actual cause of heart attack. This medicine should not be used for longer than 7 days after your surgery.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to alvimopan, if you have severe liver or kidney disease.
Do not take alvimopan if you have used an opioid medicine for more than 7 days in a row just before your intestinal surgery. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic, and may include:

• codeine (Tylenol #3);
• dihydrocodeine (in many prescription cough medicine combinations);
• fentanyl (Actiq, Fentora, Duragesic, Lazanda, Onsolis);
• hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin, Vicoprofen);
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo);
• levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran);
• meperidine (Demerol);
• methadone (Methadose, Dolophine)
• morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph);
• oxycodone (OxyContin, Combunox, Roxicodone, Percocet);
• oxymorphone (Opana);
• tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet);
• and many others.

To make sure alvimopan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver or kidney disease;
• heart disease or prior heart attack;
• blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);
• colostomy or ileostomy;
• a pancreas disorder; or
• if you have recently used any type of narcotic medicine.

FDA pregnancy category B. Alvimopan is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether alvimopan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Alvimopan Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Some people had heart attacks while taking alvimopan long-term during clinical studies. It is not clear whether alvimopan is the actual cause of heart attack. Call your doctor at once if you have heart attack symptoms, such as:

• chest pain or pressure;
• pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder;
• anxiety, nausea, sweating.

Common side effects may include:

• indigestion, stomach pain;
• nausea, vomiting; or
• diarrhea.

You may be more likely to have unpleasant effects on your stomach if you have recently used any type of narcotic (opioid) medicine.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Alvimopan Interactions

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Other drugs may interact with alvimopan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
It is especially important to tell your doctor if you have taken a narcotic medicine within the past 7 days. Narcotic medications are usually given to treat moderate to severe pain. Some prescription cough medications also contain narcotics.

Alvimopan Dosage

Alvimopan is given only in a hospital for a short period of time.
You will receive your first dose of alvimopan up to 5 hours before your surgery. You will then be given additional doses 2 times per day for up to 7 days.
This medicine should not be used for longer than 7 days after your surgery.
Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
Because you will receive alvimopan in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.