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People have different reasons for only taking naltrexone before drinking, but it comes with risks and cautions need to be taken to prevent sobriety setbacks.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why some people prefer to take naltrexone before drinking.
• The risk of taking naltrexone only before drinking.
• Expert advice if you choose to take naltrexone only before drinking.
There are several different strategies for taking naltrexone to curb alcohol cravings. Many people choose to take naltrexone daily so that they know they are covered. Others want to try just taking it before drinking if they don’t consume alcohol every day.
The latter method is a little trickier because there’s less regularity and certainty. It helps to know the reasoning behind as-needed dosing, the risk that you run with this method and ways to improve the chance that you won’t derail the progress you’ve made in curbing your alcohol cravings.
Reasons For Taking Naltrexone Before Drinking Rather Than Daily
The reasons for wanting to only take naltrexone just before drinking are diverse. Sometimes it’s pragmatic and other times it’s purely psychological.
Feels Less Like a Treatment Plan
If someone doesn’t like the thought of being on a daily medication treatment plan they may decide to make the call of when to take their naltrexone. It can be a matter of not wanting to fully acknowledge a chronic drinking problem or feeling more in control of the process.
Take Fewer Pills
Some people genuinely don’t like taking any kind of medication and want to minimize it as much as possible. It could also be the case that a person is already taking numerous medications daily and doesn’t want to add one more.
Reduce Cost
Naltrexone costs just $2-3 a day without insurance coverage. For many people, that’s a great daily investment to know they won’t increase their drinking, which ultimately can cost much more than daily naltrexone.
Experience Side Effects
Naltrexone side effects don’t happen to the majority of people, and if they do they are usually short-lived. If you happen to be in the minority of people who experience side effects beyond this point, you may be tempted to take naltrexone only before you think you’ll drink to reduce the symptoms.
Difficulty Sticking to a Regular Schedule
A very practical reason some people settle with taking naltrexone as-needed is because they simply have a hard time sticking to a regular daily schedule.
The Risks of Only Taking Naltrexone Before Drinking
There are reasons for doing something and there are risks that go along with doing it. The risks of only taking naltrexone before drinking can be significant.
The Timing Could Be Off
Timing your naltrexone dosage is extremely important to ensure that the medication actually works. If it hasn’t been in your system at least an hour you’ll feel the effects of the first drink, and that can set a person back.
Alcohol May be Around Unexpectedly
There are times when alcohol will be available unexpectedly. You may not be able to take medication far enough in advance for it to be working when the opportunity presents itself.
You May Get a Sudden Urge to Drink
The urge to drink can come when you least expect it. There could be a trigger or an offer out of nowhere, and all of a sudden you’re in the mood to have a drink.
Expert Advice For Taking Naltrexone Before Drinking
If you decide that taking naltrexone only before drinking is the best option, it helps to be as prepared as possible so that you don’t have any setbacks. We’re sharing some expert advice to help you use this method successfully.
Keep Your Naltrexone Medication With You
You never know when the urge or opportunity to drink will happen. For that reason, if you aren’t taking naltrexone daily at the same time you should keep your medication with you at all times so it’s available right away. Hold off from drinking for an hour and you’ll be set.
Use the As-Needed Method Once Your Alcohol Use is Under Control
Anyone who is following The Sinclair Method is familiar with the concept of taking naltrexone daily at first until you reach remission or stabilization, then using it as-needed. It’s the recommended method for many people. Usually 3-4 months is the point when substantial progress is seen. Taking naltrexone daily for 6-12 monthsl is a common benchmark for stable sobriety.
Switch to Daily Use If Taking Naltrexone Just Before Drinking Doesn’t Work
If you find that you have difficulty taking naltrexone at the right time using the as-needed method it’s time to try daily use. Even just one instance of one drink without naltrexone can derail the progress of keeping alcohol cravings under control.
Naltrexone prescriptions are available online for convenient, affordable medication-assisted treatment that gives you control over drinking. Take the Alcohol Use Assessment as the first step in the process of discussing your options with a qualified clinician.
