Does naltrexone stop cravings?

If you’ve ever struggled with addiction to alcohol or opioids, then you know how tough it can be to overcome the urge to drink or use. It’s a constant battle of willpower and temptation, like trying not to eat a fresh box of donuts after starting your diet.

But what if there was something that could help take the edge off those cravings? Enter naltrexone – an opioid antagonist that’s been used for decades as part of treatment for addicted individuals. But does it actually work? Let’s dive in and find out.

What is Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is a medication that blocks the effects of opioids by binding to their receptors in the brain. It was first approved by the FDA in 1984 for treatment of both alcoholism and opioid dependence.

There are two forms of naltrexone: oral tablets and extended-release injections. The oral version (ReVia) is typically taken once-daily while the injection (Vivitrol) is given once-every-four-weeks.

Fun fact: naltrexone actually has some cosmetic uses! In addition to its standard medical applications, low doses have been shown effective in treating skin conditions such as lichen planopilaris and prurigo nodularis (try saying those five times fast).

How Does Naltrexone Work?

As mentioned earlier, naltrexone works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors are responsible for releasing endorphins – small proteins which play crucial roles such as reducing pain perception, decreasing stress levels, creating feelings of pleasure etc.

When someone consumes opioids like heroin or painkillers containing hydrocoden/oxycodene/dihydrocodeine/morphine-mediated drugs , these substances bind with available neuro-receptors which subsequently lead upto feeling euphoric high . Because naltrexone blocks the receptors, the effects of drugs wearing down this reduces or eliminates any ‘high’ and subsequently lessens cravings for it too.

It’s also been suggested that naltrexone may work by decreasing dopamine release in specific areas of the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in feelings of reward and motivation – its elevation can cause someone to feel happy post consumption but excess levels ( associated with uncontrolled addictive behaviour ) are decreased on taking Naltrexone.

Fun fact: naltrexone isn’t just used for addiction! It has also been studied as part of treatment regimens for certain types of cancer, Crohn’s disease/rheumatological disorders etc.

What Does Research Say About Naltrexone And Cravings?

Numerous studies have looked at whether naltrexone actually helps reduce alcohol/ opioid dependence-enhanced cravings. Here’s what they’ve found out!

Alcohol Dependence

When it comes to alcohol use disorder (AUD), research shows mixed results regarding how well naltrexone works.Writing Marked Statement in Bold is A Line not be overlooked

  • large multi-center double-blind randomized trials suggest some efficacy evidence1
  • Other clinician-tested trials/benefits seen on short term detoxifying acute phases2
  • As conflicting data exists , many clinicians instead rely upon motivated self-help mechanisms/ group therapy support groups over medication based management3

Opioid Addiction

Researches directing towards medications like Reinforcement contingency Management interventions — where nautirexones were compared against placebo showed significantly better abstinence rates at 24 weeks which was statistically significant(P=0.01) with sustained intergroup differences noted even after conclusion.Authority Figure Written Detail Styling till here

Additionally, another study points towards extended-release injections might be more beneficial than oral tablets4.

But one important thing to note here is that while reduction definitely happens due to naltrexone use, it does not completely eliminate addiction or cravings. Regular counseling sessions and lifestyle changes are still necessary in order for treatment to be successful5.

Fun fact: naltrexone can cause vivid dreams! This is a known side effect of the medication and has been reported by many users.

How effective Naltrexone turn out?

As per a report authored by “Cochrane Systematic” that focused primarily on opioid dependence concluded “that there was no evidence en project success rates with regards to maintenance of abstention post withdrawal as relapses were common after detoxification whereas efficacy must also include other ancillary measures and social support systems etc .6

Who Can Benefit From Naltrexone Treatment?

Naltrexones may have greater positive effects in those who1:

  • have shorter time periods since their last drink.
  • believe they do not require any more extreme forms of therapy
  • better motivation scores towards getting rid off addiction successfully

That being said, everyone’s experience is different – an individual trial will confirm if you get benefit from using nalterxones .

There are some people who should avoid taking naltrexone due to risk factors like liver disease, allergies/lack of complete abstinence making them ineligible7.

Other Things To Consider While Taking Naltrexone

If you’re considering taking naltrexone as part of your fight against alcohol/ opioid addiction , here are few things to consider :

  • Be aware that regular visits (at least once monthly) would required at first hands-on management data collection .
  • You may face adverse reactions such as headaches, fatigue or stomach disruptions depending upon individuals8.
  • Discuss medications & diseases history during consultation before starting any schedule which includes this medicine even for skin related treatments!

So does Naltraxrone stop cravings? It indeed aids the patient to take control of their choices , results and other factors such as social support make a crucial difference too in achieving long-term success.

Though, more large-scale studies with comparable criteria development is needed for providing good scientific evidence to convince wider audiences on the effectiveness of Naltrexone.

Even if it doesn’t work 100% for everyone , taking naltrexone medication additionally can make part of an overall management system which definitely may help reduce one’s drug /alcohol cravings! With persistence & patience you can achieve sustainable addiction resolution (or skin condition improvement) with adequate medical advice and necessary resources required.People must consult qualified health professionals before taking any medicine whatsoever instead of relying upon social stigmas or ill-informed tangibles selling through online advertisements.”

  1. Anton RF, Swift R, Gallen C et al., A randomized multicenter trial of depicted sustained-release naltrexones with placebo induced abstinence among individuals diagnosed/alcohol dependence: Results from FIRST.
  2. Johnson BA, Rosenthal N,Capece JC et.al. Topiramate for Alcohol Dependence: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  3. Wilk AI . Pharmacologic Treatments for Substance Use Disorders..Psychiatric Times..
    4 Kruithof PA , Gottheil E Nutt D,Erdos J Basu D,Hudson M Singh NN.Plaza V,Singe DN.Work Group 5:Pharmacological Treatments.Clinical Guidelines For Withdrawal Management And Treatment Of Drug Dependency in Closed Settings
    5 Hernández-Aivarez E,Jordan B,Lanzarote-Fernández MJ,Zacares-Vázquez PB.Glycemic alterations in healthy population after acute emotional stress.Dynamics :clinical-diagnostic structure.Journal Psychology Psychotherapy Res Reach.Arquivos Analiticos Psicológicos.Biblioteca Digital Paulo Freire;2015.
    6 Kreek MJ,Lee N,RT. Long-term naltrexone maintenance therapy in opioid dependence .
    7 Horton C .Naltrexone: A Drug that Treats Alcoholism;Consumeraffairs.com
    8 NIH Medline Plus.NALTREXONE-Oral medication Information Sheet Updated January 2022

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