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Generic Name: alvimopan (AL vi MOE pan)
Brand Names: Entereg
What is alvimopan?
Alvimopan reduces certain side effects of narcotic medications that are often used to prevent pain caused by surgery.
Narcotic medications can cause stomach pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. These side effects can delay recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
Alvimopan works by preventing these side effects without reducing the pain-relieving effects of the narcotic.
Alvimopan is used to speed recovery of stomach and intestinal functions after a gastrointestinal surgery and to prevent side effects caused by narcotic medications.
Alvimopan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about alvimopan?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to alvimopan, or if you have used a narcotic medication within the past 7 days. You may be more likely to have unpleasant effects on your stomach if you have recently taken a narcotic medication.
Before you receive alvimopan, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease.
Alvimopan is given only in a hospital for a short period of time.
Tell your caregivers right away if you have pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, painful or difficult urination, or confusion with uneven heart rate, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling, and increased urination.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before I receive alvimopan?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to alvimopan, or if you have used a narcotic medication within the past 7 days, such as:
fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic);
hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin);
hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone);
levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran);
meperidine (Demerol);
methadone (Methadose, Diskets, Dolophine);
morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others);
nalbuphine (Nubain);
oxycodone (OxyContin);
oxymorphone (Numorphan, Opana); or
pentazocine (Talwin).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using alvimopan, tell your doctor if you have:
liver disease; or
kidney disease.
FDA pregnancy category B. Alvimopan is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether alvimopan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How is alvimopan given?
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 two times per day for up to 7 days.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since alvimopan is given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Since alvimopan is given by a healthcare professional, an overdose of this medication is not likely to occur.
What should I avoid while receiving alvimopan?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are receiving alvimopan.
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. Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness;
painful or difficult urination;
urinating less than usual or not at all; or
confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling.
Less serious side effects may include:
stomach pain or upset;
nausea, vomiting; diarrhea;
constipation, gas; or
back pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Alvimopan Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Surgery:
Accelerate the time to upper and lower gastrointestinal recovery following partial large or small resection surgery with primary anastomosis:
Initial dose: 12 mg orally once, administered 30 minutes to 5 hours prior to surgery
Maintenance dose: 12 mg orally twice daily beginning the day after surgery for a maximum of 7 days or until discharge
Maximum dose: Not to exceed 15 doses
What other drugs will affect alvimopan?
Tell your doctor about all other medications you are using. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you have taken a narcotic medication within the past 7 days. You may be more likely to have unpleasant effects on your stomach if you have recently taken a narcotic medication.
There may be other drugs that can interact with alvimopan. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More alvimopan resources
Alvimopan Side Effects (in more detail)Alvimopan DosageAlvimopan Use in Pregnancy & BreastfeedingAlvimopan Drug InteractionsAlvimopan Support Group0 Reviews for Alvimopan - Add your own review/rating
alvimopan Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
Alvimopan Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
Alvimopan MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Alvimopan Monograph (AHFS DI)
Entereg Prescribing Information (FDA)
Entereg Consumer Overview
Compare alvimopan with other medications
Gastrointestinal SurgeryPostoperative Ileus
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about alvimopan
See also: alvimopan side effects (in more detail)
alvimopan
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