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What should I discuss with my health care provider before I receive alvimopan (Entereg)?

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 (Entereg)?

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.

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