Naltrexone for alcohol abuse and dependence
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Examples
| Brand Name | Chemical Name |
| Vivitrol | naltrexone |
Vivitrol is taken as a shot (injection) into a muscle (intramuscular) once a month.
How It Works
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that interferes with the part of the brain involved in producing the pleasure you get from drinking alcohol or other drugs.
Why It Is Used
Naltrexone is used to reduce the pleasurable effects of alcohol. It can be used alone or combined with other medicines to treat alcohol dependence.
How Well It Works
Naltrexone works best to help you stop drinking if you also get counseling.1 Most studies show that naltrexone significantly reduces your chance for relapse after you have stopped drinking.2 But it might not be effective in treating men with severe, ongoing alcohol dependence.3
Side Effects
Naltrexone can cause nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. It can also cause headaches and make you feel anxious, sleepy, or nervous.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
You might develop liver damage if you have existing liver disease (such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure) and take too much naltrexone.
This medicine will cause withdrawal symptoms if you are addicted to narcotics.
Naltrexone might work best when combined with other medicines that help you stop drinking. In one recent study, a combination of naltrexone and acamprosate worked better than either drug by itself.2
You might need to take naltrexone for several months to effectively prevent relapse.
Vivitrol, a once-a-month injection of this medicine, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administratio (FDA) to treat drinking problems. This form of naltrexone can be useful for people who have a hard time deciding whether or not to take the medicine each day.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
Srisurapanont M, Jarusuraisin N (2003). Opioid antagonists for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1). Oxford: Update Software.
Kiefer F, et al. (2003). Comparing and combining naltrexone and acamprosate in relapse prevention of alcoholism: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(1): 92–99.
Krystal JH, et al. (2001). Naltrexone in the treatment of alcohol dependence. New England Journal of Medicine, 345(24): 1734–1739.
Other Works Consulted
Beich A, et al. (2002). Screening and brief intervention for excessive alcohol use: Qualitative interview study of the experiences of general practitioners. BMJ, 325(7369): 870.
Credits
| Author | Stuart J. Bryson |
| Author | Ralph Poore |
| Author | Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D. |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Enoch Gordis, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Last Updated | November 7, 2005 |
| Last updated: | November 07, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D. |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Enoch Gordis, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Terrina Vail |
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