Naltrexone for alcohol abuse and dependence

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
naltrexone	ReVia [formerly called Trexan], Vivitrol

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.

Author:	Stuart J. Bryson Ralph Poore Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D.	Last Updated November 7, 2005
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Enoch Gordis, MD - Internal Medicine
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