Naltrexone for Alcohol Use Disorder: How it Works

Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. Naltrexone is prescribed to treat OUD after you’ve stopped taking opioids and have been through detoxification (detox).

What may interact with this medication?

You’ll likely need to have it compounded to bring it into the proper range for weight loss because the regular dosages that it comes in are unfortunately far higher than what you’ll want. You should avoid using it as your main weight loss medicine in this case. These are individuals who, despite their best efforts, are unable to maintain their weight loss. Your ability to regularly eat healthily is one of the best indicators of long-term weight loss. It alters the brain’s pleasure-reward system linked to eating in addition to controlling hunger. Not so much an actual weight loss drug, as there are many superior alternatives, such as GLP-1 agonists.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not use naltrexone either. It is very important to talk about your health history and any medications you are taking with your doctor. Unlike other medications like Ozempic, which mimics a hormone to suppress appetite, naltrexone focuses on altering reward pathways. Vivitrol for weight loss can help increase total triiodothyronine (TT3) levels and improve the conversion of total thyroxine (TT4) to total triiodothyronine (TT3). Furthermore, LDN has been shown to improve the immune system and reduce autoantibodies in some autoimmune conditions. These two reasons are why low-dose naltrexone is used for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

The medication helps reduce the rewarding feelings you may get from drinking alcohol and the cravings you may have for alcohol. However, doctors may sometimes prescribe low dose naltrexone (LDN) off-label for certain types of chronic (long-term) pain. However, a combination drug called Contrave, containing naltrexone and bupropion, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. Talk with your doctor if you are interested in learning more about Contrave.

Naltrexone Clinical Studies

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking naltrexone. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Naltrexone oral tablet can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Naltrexone and bupropion (oral route)

Alcohol use disorder sufferers who take naltrexone are able to cut back on their drinking, avoid relapses, and eventually have reduced desires for alcohol. Naltrexone helps persons with opioid use disorder stay drug-free by preventing euphoria and lowering physiological reliance on opioids like heroin, morphine, and codeine. It can be challenging to lose weight, but there are now medical advancements that can help people address the reasons for weight gain and control their unhealthy eating habits.

For some treatment protocols, such as the Sinclair Method, 50 mg of naltrexone is used to help decrease alcohol consumption by reducing cravings. Naltrexone, often combined with bupropion in the medication Contrave, can aid weight loss by altering the brain’s reward system, reducing appetite, and decreasing cravings for food. This mechanism is particularly relevant in the context of opioid use disorder, as naltrexone is also used to manage this condition by blocking opioid receptors and reducing cravings for opioids. Extended-release injectable naltrexone is approved for treatment of people with opioid use disorder. It can be prescribed by any healthcare provider who is licensed to prescribe medications, special training is not required.

What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

• This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Contrave.
• It’s considered a prescription weight-loss medication, after all.
• These may include liver problems or mood changes, such as depression.
• Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Talk with your doctor drug addiction about when it’s safe for you to start taking naltrexone. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers. This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Five different opioid receptors have been identified in humans including mu, delta, kappa, nociceptin and zeta receptors. Naltrexone binds with the greatest affinity to mu opioid receptors which are involved in euphoria, dependence, pain relief (analgesia), and other physiological functions. Most side effects of naltrexone oral tablet are mild and will go away as your body adjusts to the drug. As with most drugs, naltrexone oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Taking LDN at the same time each day can help maintain stable levels in your system, reducing the likelihood of side effects. Whether you take it in the morning or evening, consistency is key.

• The most common side effects of naltrexone include nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and insomnia.
• Before considering Naltrexone for weight loss, consulting a healthcare provider is critical.
• Choosing between Naltrexone and Suboxone depends on various factors, including the patient’s current state of opioid use, treatment goals, and individual health conditions.
• As with fibromyalgia, the studies on its safety and efficacy are limited, but it does seem to address chronic pain caused by inflammation well.
• Taking opioid medications during treatment with naltrexone oral tablet or after stopping naltrexone can increase your risk of opioid overdose.
• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or if you have been told by others you have these symptoms.

Naltrexone’s impact on appetite and cravings

That was the second time trying it as the first time I took it I thought I happened to get sick but now I realize it was definitely the naltrexone. It’s not known whether naltrexone should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/naltrexone-side-effects-uses-and-risks/ breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. It’s not known whether naltrexone should be taken during pregnancy.

While less common, the most serious side effects of naltrexone are described below, along with what to do if they happen. It should have plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy carbs. Pay attention to how much you eat, even if naltrexone makes you less hungry. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. We performed data extraction for all 14 full texts, not blinded to author or journal, using a predefined extraction sheet (available upon request).

People with bipolar disorder who take an antidepressant, such as Contrave, may have a higher risk of having mania or a manic episode. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a manic episode. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Contrave.