Naltrexone for alcohol abuse and dependence

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
naltrexone	ReVia [formerly called Trexan]

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 taking 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 counselling.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.

You might need to take naltrexone for several months to effectively prevent relapse.

Experts are studying a once-a-month injection of this medicine. In a recent study, the long-term form of naltrexone worked best to treat drinking problems. Researchers need to study this form of naltrexone more to see if it is a safe and effective treatment.⁴

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Alison Allen Jeannette Curtis Maureen Shea	Last Updated: November 20, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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