What’s the Best Naltrexone Dose For Alcohol: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg or 150mg

The right naltrexone dosage for alcohol cravings varies from person to person but there are four common naltrexone doses to know. 

What You’ll Learn: 

• The most common naltrexone doses available today.
• The specifics about 25 mg naltrexone tablets.
• Why 50mg is the typical naltrexone dosage for alcohol use disorder.
• When naltrexone 100mg tablets are prescribed.
• How safe it is to take a 150mg naltrexone dose for alcohol.

The uses for naltrexone are expanding every day, and part of the reason for that expansion is the fact that the medication comes in different dosage levels. That means clinicians can dial in the appropriate dosage level for targeted effects while minimizing the chance of side effects. 

Naltrexone doses are measured in milligrams. In the tablet form naltrexone can come in a huge range of doses down to just a few milligrams. However, when naltrexone is used for alcohol it’s usually prescribed in one of the four most common doses: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg or 150mg.

Naltrexone 25 mg Tablets

Dosage Level: Low dose

Primarily For: Initial use and to maintain sobriety

Safety and Side Effects: Very safe and well tolerated

A 25 mg naltrexone prescription is considered low dose when you’re addressing alcohol cravings or treating alcohol use disorder. That said, 25 mg naltrexone is still effective at inhibiting opioid neurotransmitters from producing dopamine when alcohol is consumed so that you don’t get the buzz and can break bad drinking habits. It’s also commonly used to help people maintain sobriety after breaking free of alcohol with a higher dose of naltrexone.

If you are conservative about prescription medications, you can start at the 25mg level for the first few weeks and then slowly increase the dosage if needed. It’s also possible to take two 25mg naltrexone tablets to gauge how you’ll respond to a naltrexone 50mg dose, if your prescribing clinician okays it. 

Naltrexone 50 mg Tablets

Dosage Level: Moderate 

Primarily For: Common daily naltrexone dose for alcohol cravings and AUD

Safety and Side Effects: Very safe and well studied, mild side effects may occur

Naltrexone 50mg tablets are considered the standard daily dose for alcohol use disorder. This dosage level is extensively researched and shows a high level of efficacy when taken each day. At the same time naltrexone 50mg side effects are very low. 

With telehealth platforms like Choose Your Horizon you can buy a naltrexone 50 mg tablet online for daily use, but it requires an evaluation and prescription from one of our qualified medical professionals. 

Naltrexone 100 mg Tablets

Dosage Level: Moderate

Primarily For: Common naltrexone dose for chronic alcohol use

Safety and Side Effects: Safe with slightly increased risk of common side effects

Prescribing naltrexone 100 mg for alcoholism is sometimes done if a 50mg naltrexone dose doesn’t seem to be enough to curb cravings and is well tolerated. A 100mg dose of naltrexone can also be used for alternate-day schedules in which the medication is taken every other day. Taking naltrexone 100 mg daily is considered perfectly safe, however, the chance of mild side effects is a little higher.

Naltrexone 150 mg Tablets

Dosage Level: High

Primarily For: Common dose for heavy use and severe AUD

Safety and Side Effects: Safe with slightly higher likelihood of common side effects

The highest dosage for naltrexone tablets that’s commonly prescribed is 150 mg. While this may seem high compared to a naltrexone 50 mg tablet for alcohol, research has found that it’s still safe for most people to take on a daily basis. Also, some people take this higher 150mg naltrexone dose to extend the effects out 2-3 days. 

Since the potential for liver damage is higher with a 150mg naltrexone dose, clinicians will want to ensure you are in good health before prescribing at this level and will continue to closely monitor you for side effects.

While naltrexone 50 mg for alcoholism is the gold standard, it’s far from the only option. At Choose Your Horizon, we often prescribe naltrexone 50mg tablets for alcohol use disorder, however, our clinicians can prescribe naltrexone doses at all levels. We work closely with patients and monitor their progress to get the naltrexone dosage right for each individual. 

It all begins with our Alcohol Use Assessment. The assessment gauges whether you could be a good candidate for a naltrexone prescription, and if so, we can schedule a virtual consultation to get the prescription sent directly to you in a matter of days.