Like naltrexone, acamprosate is considered a first-choice option for moderate-to-severe AUD. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you’re not alone, and help is available. And if you experience worsening depression or changes in behavior while taking naltrexone, let your healthcare provider know right away. You shouldn’t use naltrexone if you have liver failure or acute hepatitis. Injection site reactions or serious allergic reactions with IM naltrexone Opioid withdrawal if you take it within 7 to 10 days of an opioid These include:ĭepression and thoughts of self-harm or suicide Oral and IM naltrexone can cause some common side effects. But if you think you’ll have trouble making it to your provider’s office every month, pills may be a better option. So if you have trouble taking pills, this may be a good option. One benefit of IM naltrexone is that you only need a dose every 4 weeks. But another study found that IM naltrexone didn’t lead to less alcohol-related hospital admissions than oral naltrexone. For example, one study found that people taking IM naltrexone had a longer time to relapse than those taking oral naltrexone. Research comparing oral and IM naltrexone shows conflicting results. This may be more likely for men versus women, as well as for people who stop drinking before starting naltrexone. IM naltrexone has also been shown to reduce heavy drinking. But it’s not clear whether oral naltrexone helps people stay away from alcohol entirely (avoid a relapse), or whether it’s effective at reducing drinking after you stop taking. Though some studies have shown oral naltrexone doesn't reduce drinking, most studies have found that it does. Naltrexone is considered effective at improving outcomes in AUD. If it works for you, your healthcare provider might recommend you stay on it for at least one year. Some studies show that when naltrexone is stopped, any benefit may be lost.
We don't know exactly how long you should take naltrexone. The injection is given intramuscularly (IM) into your buttock muscle by a healthcare provider. The usual starting dose is 50 mg per day. Naltrexone comes as a generic once-daily tablet or a brand-name, once-monthly injection (Vivitrol). Alcohol becomes less enjoyable and cravings for alcohol decrease. Having an excessive amount of opioids and dopamine in the body can lead to addiction and dependence.īy blocking areas of the body where opioids attach (opioid receptors), naltrexone blocks the rewarding effects of alcohol. When you drink alcohol, your body releases endogenous (natural) opioids and a chemical called dopamine. It may help people who want to stop drinking alcohol completely ( abstinence) or who just want to drink less (moderation). Naltrexone (Vivitrol) is a first-choice option for moderate to severe AUD, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
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