How long does Depade stay in your system?

The elimination half-life of naltrexone and the metabolite 6-ß-naltrexol ranges between 4 and 13 hours. However, Depade’s duration of action will depend on your dosing schedule. More on the metabolism of Depade here.

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Reviewed by: Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D.

Depade is an oral form of naltrexone, a pure opioid antagonist used in the treatment of alcoholism and opiate addiction. It helps make drinking and drug use less desirable and can help address cravings. After oral administration, Depade is rapidly and almost completely absorbed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and metabolized mainly by the liver. However, Depade’s duration of action will depend on your dosing schedule.

So, how long does it really stay in the body? How is Depade metabolized? We answer these and other questions, here. The you are welcome to send us your questions through the comments section at the end of the page. We try to provide answers to all legitimate inquiries.

Main Depade uses

Depade is prescribed to help decrease physical and psychological cravings for alcohol and opiate drugs. While it is not a magic pill, Depade can be successfully used as a part of a full addiction treatment program including counseling, psychotherapy, support, and lifestyle changes. But, not everyone can use Depade and it’s up to doctors to decide whether or not you are eligible for Depade treatment. Here is what makes patients eligible candidates to receive this medication as a part of addiction treatment:

  1. You are willing to take a medicine to help with opiate dependence or alcohol dependence treatment.
  2. You have been opioid and opiate-free and abstained from alcohol for 7 to 14 days.
  3. You don’t have problems with kidney and liver function or injuries.
  4. You are not allergic to naltrexone (the main active ingredient in Depade) and have no other contraindications with this medication.

How do you take Depade?

Patients must have no opioids in their system before beginning treatment with Depade. In fact, no opiate drugs (prescription or illicit) are to be used for at least 7 days before prescription initiation, but some doctors will advise you to wait 10-14 days before starting Depade. Also, doctors suggest patients abstain from alcohol for at least a week before initiating Depade treatment.

1. Taking Depade for alcoholism treatment.

A dose of 50mg taken once daily is recommended for most patients trying to achieve sobriety. The tablet should be taken by mouth, with or without food or as directed by doctor. Depade can successfully assist alcoholism recovery by blocking the need for alcohol, preventing relapse and decreasing alcohol consumption. It should be taken regularly to get the most benefit from it.

2. Taking Depade for opioid or opiate addiction.

In medical practice, a dose of 50mg of Depade has been shown to block the effects of opiate drugs for about 24 hours. Actually, 50mg of Depade is the generally prescribed initial dose, that can later be increased or decreased depending on the way patients react to treatment. Clinical studies suggest that doubling Depade dose will also double the duration of effects (48 hours), while 150mg of Depade, which is triple the initial dose can provide blockage for approximately 72 hours.

Depade is supplied as:

  • Depade tablets of 25 mg-pink film coated tablets, shaped as capsules, with the number 25 stamped on one side and “DEPADE” on the other side of the tablet.
  • Depade tablets of 50 mg-yellow film coated tablets, shaped as capsules, with the number 50 stamped on one side and a line that separates the 5 and 0. “DEPADE” is stamped on the opposite side of the tablets.
  • Depade tablets of 100 mg strength-beige film coated capsule-shaped tablets, with the brand name “DEPADE” stamped on one side of the tablets and the number 100 on the other.

Peak levels and half life of Depade

Depade is rapidly and almost completely (about 96%) absorbed through the GI tract. Concentration levels in blood reach their peak within 1 hour of dosing. The metabolites are excreted by the kidneys, while the elimination half-life of naltrexone and the metabolite 6-ß-naltrexol ranges between 4 and 13 hours.

Depade drug testing: How long does Depade stay in the body?

Doctors and employers don’t usually test for Depade because it’s a legal medication and not a drug of abuse. It does not cause euphoria, you cannot get high on Depade, and it’s not addictive. Furthermore, because your body does not develop dependence to Depade, it’s safe to stop use with no risk of withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Still, Depade’s duration of action will depend on your dosing schedule.

Note here that Depade can interfere with laboratory tests for other substances. You should inform your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are regularly receiving Depade therapy. Also, while a patient is on Depade, doctors should run regular tests to monitor general health and functioning of internal organs.

Problems with Depade?

Side effects or problems with Depade treatment are possible, just like with any other medication. It is important to call your doctor if you any unusual or persistent effects from the medication. Common side effects from Depade include:

  • diarrhea
  • fluctuation in energy levels
  • headaches
  • nausea
  • tiredness
  • problems sleeping or insomnia
  • restlessness

There are also some serious side effects from Depade, and although rare, they shouldn’t be overlooked. Some of these side effects may indicate kidney or liver problems, so contact your doctor and seek help if you feel any of the following symptoms:

  • abdominal pain
  • anxiety
  • chest pain
  • constipation
  • dark or tea-colored urine
  • light-colored bowel movements
  • loss of appetite
  • muscle and joint aches
  • skin rashes
  • yellowing in the whites of the eyes
  • yellowing of the skin

Depade in the system questions

Still have questions about the amount of time Depade stays in you system? If you have any questions about Depade treatment, you can post them in the comments section below. We try to provide a personal and prompt response to all legitimate inquiries.

Reference Sources: NCBI: Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies Into Medical Practice: Oral Naltrexone
PubChem: Naltrexone
MedlinePlus: Naltrexone
NIDA: Naltrexone-An Antagonist Therapy for Heroin Addiction
SAMHSA: Naltrexone
SAMHSA: The facts about NALTREXONE for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
The Cure for Alcoholism: The medically proven way to eliminate alcohol addiction, pages 220-230
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
Medical Reviewers
Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. is a general surgeon practicing women's focused medici...

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a licensed medical professional.

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