For acamprosate, variables related to abstinence and detoxification before the trial also were significant moderators of abstinence outcomes. These findings support previous hypotheses and replicate findings in clinical trials (e.g., 30) that acamprosate is more effective when administered to patients who are not currently drinking. However, this review is the first to test these study characteristics as moderators of effect size at the meta-analytic level. Other explanations for these findings can be pointed to, in addition to the proposal that the pharmacological properties of acamprosate are most effective when individuals have already stopped drinking.

Length of medication administration

Those found eligible and initiated on naltrexone 50 mg daily were recruited in the study after taking informed consent. Patients with significant physical/psychiatric co-morbidity were excluded from the study. The patients were detoxified as per the standard treatment intervention before initiating naltrexone. The patients were followed up one month after treatment initiation. The follow-up assessments included clinical status (retained/not retained) and naltrexone treatment (response reduction of drinking/reduction of craving).

• It is important that medical managed withdrawal (detoxification) from opioids be completed at least 7 to 10 days before extended-release injectable naltrexone is initiated or resumed.
• Therapy, support groups, lifestyle changes, and medications all have a place in that toolbox.
• While less common, the most serious side effects of naltrexone are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
• If the person is committed to taking naltrexone every time they crave an alcoholic drink, this method works well to reduce drinking.

Does naltrexone interact with foods or drinks?

• Naltrexone is a medication used to help people reduce or stop drinking alcohol.
• Before taking naltrexone, be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any use of prescription and/or illicit opioids.
• It’s not a magic pill, but a tool that can help reduce cravings and change drinking patterns.
• You can start by taking 25 mg (half a dose) with a meal each day.
• In other cases, medication effects were evident only in subgroup analyses (e.g. Drobes et al., 2003; Krishnan‐Sarin et al., 2007; Palfai et al., 1999).

These side effects, along with headache and fatigue, made up the majority of reports in clinical trials.20,40,41 Such effects, usually mild in intensity, occurred in up to 30% of patients. Naltrexone will help you avoid using drugs and alcohol, but it will not prevent or relieve the withdrawal symptoms that may occur when you stop using these substances. You should not take naltrexone if you have recently stopped using opioid medications or opioid street drugs and are now experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Naltrexone, a medication for alcohol use disorder, works by blocking the brain’s pleasure response to drinking. It works by blocking the effects of opioids, especially the euphoric and rewarding feeling that makes you want to use them. It also may block the euphoric and rewarding feeling that may make you want to use alcohol.

Final Thoughts: What Happens If You Drink Alcohol While Taking Naltrexone?

Patients on naltrexone may have reduced tolerance to opioids and may be unaware of their potential sensitivity to the same, or lower, doses of opioids that they used to take. If a person relapses and uses the problem drug, naltrexone prevents the feeling of getting high. People using naltrexone should not use any other opioids or illicit drugs; drink alcohol; or take sedatives, tranquilizers, or other drugs. By combining naltrexone treatment with these complementary strategies, individuals can develop a comprehensive approach to managing alcohol cravings and supporting long-term recovery. It’s crucial for patients to communicate openly with their healthcare providers about any side effects they experience.

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Thus, medications were not compared to a “pure” no-treatment placebo condition – the placebo group was almost always getting some sort of psychotherapy for an alcohol use disorder, as well. This design feature may have dulled the medication effect, or, by increasing medication compliance, it may have had the opposite effect. Our sensitivity analyses indicated that focusing only on studies with concurrent psychosocial treatment did not change our results. Future analyses that include detailed coding of the types of psychotherapy might provide more understanding of when medication effect sizes vary. For example, naltrexone has been shown to have particularly positive effects when combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (79).

• Tell your healthcare provider before you take naltrexone if you have any of the following symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
• Retention in the treatment was defined as the patient visiting the centre at the end of one month and adhering to medication for at least 24 days in the last month.
• When someone drinks or uses drugs, the brain releases chemicals like dopamine, which produce feelings of pleasure and reduce both physical and emotional discomfort.

We focused on characteristics of the study design and methodology that were relevant to all participants in a particular trial. However, the use of naltrexone does not come without challenges. The misconception that it allows for safe drinking can be detrimental to the recovery process. As such, patient education, informed consent, and a commitment to a holistic treatment approach are crucial components of successful use of naltrexone in AUD treatment. Effective recovery is multifaceted and should address the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of addiction, with naltrexone serving as one of the many tools to aid individuals on their path to sobriety. Naltrexone works best when combined with behavioral therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Individual, Group, and Family Therapy.

You must stop taking opioids at least 7–10 days before you start taking naltrexone. Naltrexone is prescribed as one part of a treatment program for AUD. The program may include counseling, psychotherapy, education, and support groups. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as naltrexone to treat certain conditions.

Imagine what’s possible on the other side of opioid use disorder.

This study may have highlighted both medications under “optimal conditions” – detoxification was required, as was a long period of abstinence (12 days). Given these requirements, this study may have recruited particularly committed participants, allowing fewer differences to emerge under such optimal conditions. Our tests indicated that these studies were not outliers (i.e., did not unduly influence overall effect sizes).

It is used as part of an overall program that may include counseling, attending support group meetings, and other treatment recommended by your healthcare provider. Naltrexone and acamprosate have similar success rates in reducing alcohol consumption. A 2012 meta-analysis of 64 studies found that both drugs decreased the risk of returning to drinking by about 15-25%. Disulfiram shows mixed results, with some studies indicating it’s less effective than naltrexone or acamprosate. Acamprosate is better for promoting abstinence and naltrexone is more efficacious in reducing craving and heavy drinking. When compared to other treatments for alcohol use disorder, naltrexone shows competitive effectiveness.

Can you drink alcohol while taking low dose naltrexone?

This study adds to the evidence of outcomes with naltrexone in terms of reduced craving and alcohol use. Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. It works in the brain to prevent opiate effects (e.g., feelings of well-being, pain relief). In drug addiction fact, naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it binds to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking the effect of opioids. Naltrexone is prescribed to treat OUD after you’ve stopped taking opioids and have been through detoxification (detox). With detox, your body clears any remaining opioids from your body.

Heavy drinking and craving

How Naltrexone is used can depend on the person’s needs and the intensity of their naltrexone side effects treatment plan. If you have drunk on Naltrexone, stay calm and avoid drinking more. If the liver is already weak or damaged from past alcohol use, this additional stress can cause liver injury.