Naltrexone For Alcohol Use Disorder

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication originally approved for opioid addiction treatment. This medication is sold under the brand name ‘ReVia and Depacade.’ It has now been approved for the use of alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder. 

It is prescribed as a recovery maintenance medication, administered only after you have stopped drinking. It helps to:

1. Reduce alcohol cravings
2. Blocks the ‘high’ experienced by using alcohol 
3. Blocks the effects of alcohol, thus discouraging the use

Naltrexone Mechanism Of Action

The exact mechanism of Naltrexone in treating alcoholism is not well understood. But, naltrexone is an opioid antagonist. It binds to the  Mu- receptors in the body and blocks the euphoric effects of incoming opioids and alcohol. It also replaces and stabilizes the receptors to reduce alcohol cravings.

What Should You Know Before Starting Naltrexone?

Before starting Naltrexone, please be mindful of these facts:

1. Naltrexone is not a stand-alone treatment for alcoholism; it is part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan that involves counseling, therapy, guidance, and medical care.
2. Naltrexone interacts with other opioids, and please inform your healthcare provider if you are taking opioid medications.
3. Inform your doctor about your medication or any other illicit substance use. 
4. There should be no traces of alcohol before starting Naltrexone.
5. You may be required to take a urine test to confirm there are no traces of opiates in your system.
6. Please inform your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.
7. This drug may cause drowsiness after initial use. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery. 

Dosage Of Naltrexone

The dosage of naltrexone differs from person to person. It depends on:

1. Previous history of a relapse
2. How well your body is tolerating the medication
3. The severity of your addiction.

Generally, the following doses are prescribed:

1. For Adults:

50 mg oral Naltrexone once a day.

Naltrexone injection once a month

2. For Teens 

The dosage is determined strictly by the doctor.

Please Note: Take the medication as prescribed by your doctor. The information presented here is just for general knowledge and should not be used as medical advice. 

Research Facts About Naltrexone 

Naltrexone is a well-studied and researched medication and is safe for long-term use. Several researches highlight the benefits of Naltrexone. An overview is presented below:

1. The research found that 70% of people reported a reduction in heavy drinking and demonstrated the advantage of Naltrexone over the control group receiving no medication.
2. Another study reported that patients receiving Naltrexone treatment reported abstinence from heavy drinking, reduced cravings, and number of drinks consumed. These effects were sustained at 6 months post-treatment follow-ups.

 

Be Mindful Of The Potential Side Effects Of Naltrexone

Naltrexone is safe to use and is well-tolerated by most patients. But call your doctors if these symptoms do not go away:

1. Nausea 
2. Vomiting
3. Anxiety
4. Dizziness
5. Muscle cramps
6. Weakness
7. Chest pain
8. Rash
9. Swelling of eyes
10. Difficulty in swallowing

 

Suggested Read:  Does Naltrexone side effects outweigh its advantages?

 

How Long Does Naltrexone Stay In The System?

The half-life of oral naltrexone is 5-10 days. Oral naltrexone may stay in the system for 24 to 72 hours. However, injectable naltrexone may last for a month.

Naltrexone may show up in the tests:

1. Blood test: up to 24 hours
2. Urine test: 4-6 hours
3. Hair test: up to 90 days

Injectable Vivitrol can be detected after months of injection.