Movantik

Movantik is a prescription drug used in treating constipation caused by intake of opioids or narcotic pain medicines, in adults with non-cancer related chronic pain.

Before using Movantik, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. The risks and benefits the medicine offer must be weighed.

For this medicine, you and your doctor must consider the following:

Allergies

If you have any unusual reaction to any medicine, including movantik, be sure to tell your doctor about it. Additionally, disclose other types of allergies - foods, preservatives, animals, or dyes, if there are any. Read the package ingredients carefully and make sure you are not allergic to any of its ingredients.

Pediatric

No appropriate studies are done to determine the effects of this drug in children. Efficacy and safety of the use of this drug in children are not yet established.

Geriatric

Most recent appropriate studies have not shown geriatric-specific problems that would hinder the effects of naloxegol in the elderly.

Pregnancy

No adequate studies were done in pregnant women that demonstrate evidence of harm to the fetus.

Breastfeeding

Although there are no adequate studies in lactating mothers that determine potential risk in an infant when breastfeeding, the potential benefits should be weighed against the risks before taking this medication.

Drug Interactions

There are medicines that should not be taken with certain other medicines because of a possible interaction. For instance, if you are to use naloxegol, you may need to avoid taking some medicines, or if you are already taking them, your doctor may advise you not to use naloxegol at all. These drugs include:

• Atazanavir
• Aprepitant
• Boceprevir
• Cobicistat
• Conivaptan
• Clarithromycin
• Delavirdine
• Fosaprepitant
• Imatinib
• Itraconazole
• Idelalisib
• Indinavir
• Ketoconazole
• Lopinavir
• Nelfinavir
• Nefazodone
• Posaconazole
• Ritonavir
• Saquinavir
• Telithromycin
• Telaprevir
• Tipranavir
• Voriconazole

Inform your doctor if you are using the drugs listed above, as well as the ones listed below:

• Abiraterone
• Amobarbital
• Alvimopan
• Aprobarbital
• Butalbital
• Butabarbital
• Carbamazepine
• Ciprofloxacin
• Ceritinib
• Crizotinib
• Darunavir
• Dronedarone
• Diltiazem
• Erythromycin
• Efavirenz
• Enzalutamide
• Etravirine
• Fosphenytoin
• Fluconazole
• Methohexital
• Mephobarbital
• Methylnaltrexone
• Miconazole
• Mitotane
• Mifepristone
• Nalmefene
• Naloxone
• Nalorphine
• Naltrexone
• Nilotinib
• Netupitant
• Oxcarbazepine
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Pentobarbital
• Primidone
• Rifabutin
• Rifapentine
• Rifampin
• Samidorphan
• St John's Wort
• Secobarbital
• Thiopental
• Ticagrelor
• Verapamil

Other Medical Problems

Inform your doctor about any existing or history of any other medical problems. The presence of these may affect how you use this drug.

If you have Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, Ogilvie’s syndrome, peptic ulcer, or cancer of the stomach or bowel, using naloxegol may only cause more serious side effects. Use this medicine with caution if you have moderate to severe kidney disease since the effects of the drug may be increased due to the slower removal of the medicine from the system.

On the other hand, patients with existing or history of stomach or bowel blockage should not use naloxegol.

To use Movantik properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. Changing your dose and adjusting the time of intake may result in increased chance of side effects. Naloxegol must be taken on an empty stomach, no less than 1 hour before the first meal of the day or at least 2 hours after a meal.

Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet; swallow it whole. Stop taking laxatives before starting intake of this drug. While using this medicine, do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit, as doing such can cause interactions.

Dosing

Follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to dosage. The following information is only for the average dosage of this drug. The number of doses, the number of hours between doses, and how long you will take this drug depend on your health condition, your progress, and how well you react to this medicine.

For opioids-resulted constipation in adults, the usual dosage is 25 mg once a day, to be taken in the morning. Dosage may be adjusted by your doctor as needed.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. In case it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and follow your regular dosing schedule. Never take double doses.

Storage

Keep the medicine in an airtight container at normal room temperature. Keep it away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Do not let it freeze. Keep the medicine out of children’s reach. Throw away any outdated medicine or medicine that are not in use. Keep the medicine in its original package until needed.

Before using Movantik, there are some precautions you must take. Regular visits to the doctor are important to determine your progress and see if the drug is working properly.

Never take this drug with:

• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• clarithromycin

You may experience or worsen opioid withdrawal symptoms like:

• chills
• anxiety
• diarrhea
• irritability
• sweating
• stomach pain
• yawning

Taking naloxegol may cause a perforation or tear in the stomach or bowel.

Inform your doctor right away if you feel:

• severe pain in the stomach that does not go away.

Do not take any other medicines, including nonprescription and prescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements, without your doctor’s approval.

While not all people taking Movantik may suffer from these side effects, you may need to call your doctor if any of these are present:

• Pain in the abdomen or stomach
• anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• chills
• increased sweating
• yawning
• Black, bloody or tarry stools
• indigestion
• Heartburn
• trouble breathing
• nausea
• vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds

Some of the side effects may take place and may not need special medical attention and usually go away as the body adjusts to the medicine during treatment.

Some patients may experience other side effects not listed above. If you want to report side effects, you may do so by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.