1. Slideshow: Surprising Reasons You're in Pain
2. Take the Pain Quiz!
3. Slideshow: Good and Bad Exercises for Low Back Pain

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking naloxone and pentazocine (Talwin NX)?

Before using naloxone, tell your doctor if you are using any other narcotic pain medicines. The pain-relieving effects of any narcotic medications you use will be reversed if you use them while you are taking naloxone and pentazocine.

Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to naloxone (Narcan) or pentazocine.

Pentazocine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Naloxone and pentazocine should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Before using naloxone and pentazocine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
• liver or kidney disease;
• heart disease or history of heart attack;
• brain tumor or head injury;
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• low blood pressure;
• gallbladder disease;
• mental illness;
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction; or
• if you have recently received other narcotic pain medicine or methadone.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take naloxone and pentazocine.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether naloxone and pentazocine 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 should I take naloxone and pentazocine (Talwin NX)?

Never crush a naloxone and pentazocine tablet to mix into a liquid for injecting the drug into your vein. This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of pentazocine and similar prescription drugs.

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take naloxone and pentazocine in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Do not stop using naloxone and pentazocine suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Store naloxone and pentazocine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Pentazocine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Need help identifying pills and medications?
Use the pill finder tool on RxList.