Entereg

Generic Name: alvimopan (AL vi MOE pan)
Brand Names: Entereg

What is Entereg?

Entereg 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.

Entereg works by preventing these side effects without reducing the pain-relieving effects of the narcotic.

Entereg is used to speed recovery of stomach and intestinal functions after a gastrointestinal surgery and to prevent side effects caused by narcotic medications.

Entereg may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Entereg

You should not use Entereg 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 Entereg, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease.

Entereg 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 Entereg?

You should not use Entereg 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 Entereg, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease; or

• kidney disease.

FDA pregnancy category B. Entereg 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 Entereg 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 Entereg given?

Entereg is given only in a hospital for a short period of time.

You will receive your first dose of Entereg 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 Entereg 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 Entereg is given by a healthcare professional, an overdose of this medication is not likely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving Entereg?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are receiving Entereg.

Entereg 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.

What other drugs will affect Entereg?

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 Entereg. 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.

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about Entereg

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.02. Revision Date: 4/12/2009 4:46:26 PM.

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