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People can drink alcohol with naltrexone, and it’s recommended that you take naltrexone anytime you plan to drink. The only way for naltrexone medication to help reduce alcohol cravings and curb alcohol use is to take it before consuming alcohol.
Why You Want to be on Naltrexone When You Drink Alcohol
It’s understandable for someone to question whether it’s okay to drink alcohol on naltrexone. Combining alcohol with many prescription medications can actually be dangerous or negatively impact the drug’s effectiveness.
With naltrexone the exact opposite is true.
Not only is it safe to drink alcohol on naltrexone, it’s highly beneficial. Drinking with naltrexone in your system is how the medication reduces alcohol cravings.
A surge in dopamine within a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens is what produces the euphoric buzz that leads to cravings for alcohol. Naltrexone is able to block the opioid receptors that release dopamine whenever alcohol is consumed. In doing so, naltrexone breaks the pleasurable association with alcohol so that a person no longer craves it.
Naltrexone has to be taken at least an hour before drinking alcohol in order for it to block the opioid receptors. You can take naltrexone as needed when you know you’ll likely consume alcohol, or you can take it on a regular basis so that the medication is continually in your system. Often taking naltrexone as needed is done to control binge drinking
It’s safe to take naltrexone daily whether or not you consume alcohol, and a single 50mg dose is typically effective for around 24 hours, however some residual effects can last up to 71 hours. Many people prefer taking naltrexone daily so that they are covered and don’t run the risk of drinking alcohol without it. Drinking alcohol even once without naltrexone can reignite the cravings.
All that said, it is recommended that people with alcohol dependence stop drinking before they start taking naltrexone and minimize their drinking as much as possible afterward.
Final Answer:
Can you drink on naltrexone? Absolutely. It’s completely safe, and if you drink alcohol with naltrexone in your system over time you will reduce cravings and want to drink less.
Want to know more about how naltrexone works to reduce cravings for alcohol? Explore the information in our Insights section or FAQ page. You can also take the Alcohol Use Assessment to know if naltrexone therapy is right for you.
