Naltrexone in South Africa
South Africa's June 2026 official medicine-price database lists Naltima 50 mg tablets and Contrave. Naltima is the relevant standalone generic; Contrave is a different naltrexone/bupropion product for weight management.
Compare prices opens Medicforce, an online medicine seller that lists naltrexone products and prices. Get Naltrexone has no relationship with it; the official Single Exit Price on this page is the reference price.
The price record gives you a useful product name
The National Department of Health’s 30 June 2026 Database of Medicine Prices lists Naltima (naltrexone hydrochloride 50 mg), a Schedule 4 generic supplied by Accord Healthcare in a 28-tablet pack. Its Single Exit Price (SEP) is R1,166.91, or about R41.68 per tablet.
The same database lists Contrave (naltrexone 8 mg plus bupropion 90 mg), a Schedule 5 originator product supplied by Acino in a 112-tablet pack, at an SEP of R1,236.37. Contrave is for weight management and is not interchangeable with standalone naltrexone used in addiction treatment.
SEP is a regulated manufacturer-to-dispensing price and may not equal the final amount a patient pays: dispensing fees, stock, medical-aid rules, consultation, and laboratory costs can alter the total. The database contains no filled sales-volume field for these rows, so it supports commercial availability—not a claim of popularity.
How to access naltrexone in South Africa
Routes through South Africa’s public and private services. No national list we could check shows where naltrexone is stocked or prescribed, so ask each service directly.
- A doctor’s prescription. The national price database lists Naltima as a Schedule 4 medicine, so a doctor has to prescribe it: a GP, a psychiatrist or an addiction specialist. Ask whether they prescribe it for alcohol or opioid use and how follow-up works.
- Medical aid. Cover for the medicine and for specialist consultations depends on the scheme and plan; ask the scheme before treatment starts.
- Public and non-profit treatment services. The National Department of Social Development’s 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline, 0800 12 13 14, can refer you to treatment. SANCA (the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) runs alcohol and drug treatment centres; its national office lists them. Ask whether naltrexone is prescribed there and at what cost.
- Private treatment centres. Private inpatient and outpatient programmes also exist. Confirm whether a doctor there prescribes naltrexone and which costs medical aid covers.
South Africa evidence snapshot
Official medicine-price data effective in 2026.
- Standalone product: Naltima. Naltrexone hydrochloride 50 mg; 28 tablets; Schedule 4.
- Naltima SEP: R1,166.91. Official pack price before any applicable dispensing fee.
- Combination product: Contrave. Naltrexone 8 mg plus bupropion 90 mg; 112 tablets; Schedule 5.
- Contrave SEP: R1,236.37. Official pack price; a different indication and dosing regimen.
South Africa-specific questions
Is Altrex the current product?
The June 2026 national price file identifies Naltima, not Altrex, for standalone 50 mg naltrexone. Pharmacies should confirm current registration and stock by product name.
Is the Naltima SEP the amount I will pay?
Not necessarily. SEP is the regulated medicine price used in the national database. The final amount can include an applicable dispensing fee and other treatment costs.
Does medical aid cover naltrexone?
Coverage depends on the scheme, plan, indication, and authorisation rules. Ask the scheme to check the exact Naltima product and registration number 45/1.3.2/0225.
Does an official price guarantee local stock?
No. The database is strong evidence of a current commercial product, but a pharmacy must still confirm stock or order timing.
Ask the pharmacy for Naltima by name
Use the official price record as a reference, then ask for current stock, the dispensing fee, pack total, and whether a substitute would have the same active ingredient and strength.
Sources
Checked .
- South African National Department of Health: Pricing Committee documents. Open “Database of Medicine Prices 30 June 2026”; rows for Naltima and Contrave checked 26 July 2026.
- National Department of Social Development 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline (0800 12 13 14) — South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). Lists the helpline number. Checked 22 October 2026.
- SANCA treatment centres — SANCA National Office. South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Checked 22 October 2026.