Naltrexone Reduces Alcohol Cravings and Reduces Alcohol Relapses for Men and Women in San Diego County from Chula Vista and Coronado to Carlsbad

        

Naltrexone for the cravings associated with Alcoholism is helping to save people from DUI’s, divorces and the physical damage to the body.  During the first 90 days of abstinence from alcohol, the risk of a relapse is the greatest. 

Most medical experts now agree that alcoholism is a disease, just as cancer, diabetes and arthritis are diseases. And just as there are affective drugs for the treatment of cancer, there is a drug that helps with the treatment of alcoholism. It is Naltrexone, the first drug ever approved by the FDA that reduces a drinker’s craving for alcohol. 

Naltrexone (brand name Revia, Depade and Vivitrol) is an opioid antagonist that is used primarily in the management of alcohol dependence and opioid addiction. Research has shown Naltrexone (hydrochloride) to be very effective in reducing alcohol cravings. It is non-habit forming and not addicting!  It’s a breakthrough that offers a modern medical response to an ancient medical issue. It is not fully understood how Naltrexone works to reduce the craving for alcohol, but some scientists believe it works by affecting the neural pathways in the brain where the neurotransmitter dopamine is found. 

Naltrexone is usually prescribed in pill form, to be taken once a day. Generally, it is prescribed for 12 weeks to help people who have stopped drinking. Most of the time it is prescribed for a short period of time 3-6 months to help reduce the craving for alcohol. . For opioid abuse, Naltrexone is sometimes prescribed for a longer period of time since it blocks the effects of the abused drugs.

When asked, Naltrexone clients usually report experiencing a feeling of calm as their alcohol cravings subside and they report few side effects.  But for some patients, Naltrexone can cause upset stomach, nervousness, anxiety or muscle and joint pain. Usually these symptoms are mild and temporary, but for some they can be more severe and longer lasting. As with the use of any prescription drug, anyone considering using Naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol cravings should speak with their medical doctor about any side effects as well as benefits.  

A word of caution: Naltrexone is not a cure for alcoholism. It is not a quick fix! Naltrexone is only one of many factors aiding in the successful treatment for alcoholism. It should be used merely as another tool to help prevent the relapse of alcoholism. 

Other factors that contribute to the successful treatment for alcoholism are the type, intensity, and duration of substance abuse treatment; appropriate management of co-morbid conditions such as depression and anxiety; use of community-based support groups such Alcoholics Anonymous; and consistent medication compliance.

Even though Naltrexone isn’t a cure for alcoholism, it has helped many who suffer from alcohol and drug dependence to maintain abstinence by reducing their craving for alcohol and drugs. Naltrexone is a safe and promising approach to an old and difficult problem--alcoholism and drug addiction.

Entering an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for 9-12 hours a week, or a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Day Treatment as it is often called,  which varies from 15 hours to 30 hours a week, is extremely effective in helping men and women maintain recovery and prevent relapses.

If we can help you with your tendency to relapse back into drinking, despite your best intentions to gain some days of sobriety, give us call at (858) 453-4315.  We understand.

Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS
Lasting Recovery
Co-founder and Executive Director
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist ,working with addictions and families since 1981.

   “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most Intelligent but rather the most responsive to change.”

                                                                                    --Charles Darwin