Does Naltrexone Stop Alcohol Cravings?

Naltrexone is effective at reducing alcohol consumption specifically because it stops alcohol cravings by blocking opioid receptors and preventing the release of dopamine. Less dopamine means alcohol doesn’t produce the same rewarding effect, it’s not as pleasurable and cravings are reduced over time. Prescription naltrexone can also help with alcohol cravings that are associated with environmental cues that increase dopamine.  

Naltrexone is Called the Ozempic For Alcohol Because It Stops Cravings

A number of clinical trials have concluded that naltrexone therapy can help with alcohol cravings in a few key ways for social drinkers as well as people with alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder. It does so by altering neurochemical systems in the brain that generate a sense of reward, causes cravings for alcohol and reinforces its use. 

How Naltrexone Stops Alcohol Cravings From the Dopaminergic Pathways

Alcohol use impacts four systems in the brain: 

• GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)
• Glutamate
• Dopamine
• Opiate

The dopamine and opiate systems are associated with alcohol cravings, reward and reinforcement. When alcohol is consumed it elevates β-endorphin and stimulates neurons in an area of the brain called the ventral tegmental. The stimulation causes dopamine to be released in the nucleus accumbens. This is the part of the brain that’s involved with creating a sense of pleasure and reward. At the same time, alcohol inhibits GABA neurons that block dopamine, which also increases dopamine signaling. 

Naltrexone helps with alcohol cravings by blocking the opioid receptors that increase dopamine levels and prevents alcohol from inhibiting GABA. As a result, there is no dopamine increase in the nucleus accumbens and a reduction in future cravings for alcohol.

Blocked Opioid Receptors 

↓

No Dopamine Increase in the Nucleus Accumbens 

↓

No Pleasurable Effect 

↓

Less Alcohol Craving

How Naltrexone Stops Alcohol Cravings From Environmental Stimuli

There are also external factors at play that influence alcohol cravings in people with alcohol use disorder. Brain imaging has shown there are environmental cues that are connected with consuming alcohol that can increase the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens of people who have alcoholism. 

Because naltrexone is able to decrease the amount of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, it also dulls the effects of environmental cues that can increase cravings. The reduction in environmental stimuli cravings is considered particularly beneficial in helping people avoid relapse.  

Final Answer: 

So, does naltrexone help with alcohol cravings? The answer is yes, and it does so in a few ways. The vast majority of people who take naltrexone medication will have a reduction in alcohol cravings or naltrexone can stop alcohol cravings entirely. 

Are you a candidate for naltrexone? Take the Alcohol Use Assessment to find out!