Learning library
Help with alcohol use
Naltrexone: How the Medication Works and Its Benefits

Naltrexone: How the Medication Works and Its Benefits

Naltrexone is a medication used to help people reduce or quit drinking.

Naltrexone is a medication used to help people reduce or quit drinking. The use of naltrexone to reduce drinking does not require that you go cold turkey, or give up drinking altogether.

Naltrexone is not designed to make you feel sick if you drink. Instead, naltrexone can help reduce cravings for alcohol and prevent the pleasurable feelings or “buzz” that accompanies drinking. In doing so, your brain learns to stop associating alcohol with pleasure.  

Naltrexone is approved as a daily use medication for the use of alcohol use disorder. Naltrexone is also available through Confidant for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

📞
Request an Enrollment Call

Our team will call you to answer any questions you have or to help you schedule an appointment.

Request an enrollment call

How it works

Overtime, naltrexone can reduce the association of alcohol and pleasure in your brain. This changes the brain’s reward pathways so that you can moderate or stop drinking altogether.

If you’ve had pleasurable experiences drinking alcohol in the past, your brain can associate those pleasurable experiences with alcohol. Similar associations occur when eating food or having sex. This motivates us to continue these behaviors for survival. The same area of the brain responsible for associating pleasure with these activities is responsible for forming habits. Repeated activation of this region of the brain through alcohol creates a “positive reinforcement,” which results in the brain forming an intense desire, or craving, for these substances.

Naltrexone blocks the receptors in your brain that trigger the pleasurable feeling that drinking brings. You’ll still feel the effects of alcohol such as bad coordination and judgment, but you won’t experience the “buzz.” This reduces the desire to keep drinking. For many people, this translates into having fewer drinks and subsequently drinking less overall. Overtime, the desire to drink and cravings for alcohol can be eliminated.

🗓️
Book with Confidant

Book with a vetted Confidant Health provider

Book appointment

Naltrexone has been shown to be effective by many studies, but it’s not a magic pill and it doesn’t work for everyone. Medication adherence, or taking the medications as prescribed, is extremely important for naltrexone to work as intended. Even missing a single dose by accident or to feel the effects of alcohol can make it less effective. Confidant providers and recovery coaches can help you develop strategies to stick to your naltrexone plan. This can sometimes involve support from a loved one.

While naltrexone can be very effective in reducing the craving or desire to drink or keep drinking, it doesn’t necessarily address underlying reasons for drinking heavily on a regular basis. If you feel like you’re unable to control your drinking, it may be helpful to start behavioral therapy as well. At Confidant, we leverage person-centered care, meaning we’ll help you reach your goals with solutions tailored to your needs - there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

This article has been medically reviewed by
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Nurse Practitioner

Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women's health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Book appointment
👍
Recommended reading
3 mins
read time
10 Helpful Tips for Stress Management in Recovery
7 mins
read time
Naltrexone and Drinking: What You Need to Know
3 mins
read time
Sober Dating Tips for Those in Relationships with Drinkers
3 mins
read time
Strategies to Fight Urges and Cravings for Alcohol
2 mins
read time
How to Get Naltrexone: Options and Considerations
2 mins
read time
Building a Support System for Sobriety: Tips and Strategies to Try
4 mins
read time
Exercise and Sobriety: How Physical Activity Can Help
4 mins
read time
Nausea After Drinking: Causes and Remedies
4 mins
read time
How to Take a Break from Alcohol: Tips and Advice
3 mins
read time
Is Naltrexone an Opioid?
5 mins
read time
Naltrexone Dosage for Alcohol Use Disorder: What You Need to Know
7 mins
read time
Naltrexone for Alcohol Use Disorder: The Benefits and Risks
3 mins
read time
Staying Sober After a Breakup: Tips and Strategies for Success
2 mins
read time
The Sinclair Method (TSM) for Alcoholism: How It Works
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less at Family Gatherings: Tips and Strategies to Try
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less During the Holidays: Tips for Enjoying the Season Sober
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less on Weeknights: Tips for Cutting Back on Alcohol
4 mins
read time
Drinking Less at Bars: Tips for Staying Sober While Socializing
4 mins
read time
Sobriety at Company Happy Hour: Tips and Strategies to Try
4 mins
read time
Overcoming Anxiety in Sobriety: Tips and Tools for Success
3 mins
read time
Sober Business Travel: Tips and Strategies for Staying on Track
4 mins
read time
Reducing Alcohol at Business Dinners: Tips and Strategies to Try
3 mins
read time
How to Resist Alcohol Cravings: Tips for Staying Sober
4 mins
read time
Support Systems for Sobriety: Understanding Their Importance
2 mins
read time
Balancing Your Life: Tips for Achieving Harmony and Wellness
2 mins
read time
Understanding Harm Reduction: Minimizing the Risks of Alcohol Use
4 mins
read time
Naltrexone: How the Medication Works and Its Benefits
3 mins
read time
Who Benefits from Naltrexone Treatment? Exploring the Options
4 mins
read time
The Role of Healthy Eating in Sobriety: Tips and Strategies to Try
2 mins
read time
Why Choose Naltrexone? Understanding the Benefits and Risks
Confidant mobile app screens
Get immediate access to the care you need today

Scan the QR code below to download the app.

QR code to download the app
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play