Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help people who are struggling with substance use disorders manage their cravings and work towards lasting sobriety. Although there are several different types of medications that can be used in MAT, naltrexone is one of the most common.
What Is Naltrexone?
Naltrexone belongs to a class of medications that are collectively referred to as opioid antagonists because they work by blocking receptors in the brain that respond to opioids. It can be used to treat opioid use disorders as well as alcohol use disorders.
When used appropriately, naltrexone can help reduce the risk of relapse by decreasing a user’s desire to continue using opioids or alcohol. Additionally, it can be beneficial in managing the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting substance abuse.
Naltrexone is available as a daily pill or an injection. It is typically prescribed for short-term use unless patients have been successful in staying sober for extended periods of time. Revia, Vivitrol, and Depade are some of the common brand names for naltrexone.
Although naltrexone does not cure addiction on its own, it can be a useful tool in helping individuals manage their substance use disorder as part of a comprehensive continuum of care plan. This plan may include therapy, lifestyle modifications, and evidence-based care to deal with co-occurring mental health disorders or other underlying factors that contributed to the addiction.
Is Narcan the Same Thing as Naltrexone?
Narcan is the brand name for naloxone, which is also an opioid antagonist drug. However, naltrexone and naloxone work in very different ways. Naltrexone works by blocking receptors in the brain that respond to opioids or alcohol, reducing cravings, and preventing users from receiving pleasurable effects from these drugs. On the other hand, naloxone (Narcan) is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose by blocking opioids from attaching to receptors in the brain. It will have no effect if a person has overdosed on alcohol.
Can Naltrexone Help with Binge Drinking?
Historically, naltrexone has only been prescribed to people diagnosed with moderate to severe alcohol use disorders or opioid use disorders. However, new research has shown that the pill form of naltrexone may be effective in helping people with mild to moderate alcohol use disorders control their binge drinking.
Binge drinking is a term used to describe excessive alcohol consumption in a short amount of time. It typically involves the consumption of five or more drinks within two hours for men and four or more drinks within two hours for women. Binge drinking puts individuals at risk of various health problems, including liver disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and even death due to alcohol poisoning. Additionally, binge drinking can lead to impaired judgment and risky behavior such as driving while intoxicated or engaging in unprotected sex.
A study published in the December 2022 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry reports that taking naltrexone before an expected episode of binge drinking, as opposed to taking it daily, may help limit the amount of alcohol consumed by people with mild to moderate alcohol use disorders. The study followed 120 young men who identified as gay, bisexual, and/or transgender and also provided education on limiting alcohol consumption, but additional research may be able to determine if this is an effective way to reduce rates of binge drinking in the general population.
How Can I Tell if I Might Benefit from Naltrexone?
If you would like to learn more about naltrexone and how it might help you manage your substance use, a good first step is to discuss your concerns with your primary care provider. If they believe you may meet the criteria for an alcohol or opioid use disorder, they may recommend seeking inpatient residential treatment at a facility such as St. Joseph Institute for Addiction.
Located in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, our drug and alcohol addiction treatment center provides detox, counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and holistic care for men and women with substance use disorders. We work with our clients to create personalized care plans to meet their individual needs, which may include the use of MAT options such as naltrexone. Contact our addiction specialists today to learn more.
Looking for addiction treatment near Altoona, PA? To learn more about SJI Pennsylvania addiction rehab, and our programs, please contact us at (814) 228-8881.
