Naltrexone can play a vital role in the treatment of addiction, offering much-needed support to people in the early stages of recovery from alcohol and opioid addiction. For those diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or opioid use disorder (OUD), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) can serve as a cornerstone of a comprehensive recovery plan. MAT folds in prescription medications such as naltrexone with counseling and therapy to address both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.
What Is Naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a prescription medication that is used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). It was developed in 1963 and patented in 1967 before receiving approval for medical use in the U.S. in 1984.1 Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the drug blocks the sedative effects of alcohol and opioids including heroin, morphine, and codeine. Because naltrexone is unscheduled under the Controlled Substances Act, any licensed physician can prescribe this drug.2
Naltrexone comes in a pill form or as an injectable. The pill form, which goes by the brand names ReVia® and Depade®, can be taken in 50mg doses once per day. The injectable, extended-release form of naltrexone—known by its brand name Vivitrol®—is administered at 380mg once a month.3
How Does Naltrexone Work?
Naltrexone is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist. This means that it binds to endorphin receptors in the body, which blocks the pleasurable effects of alcohol and opioids. This mechanism of action also suppresses or significantly reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids, making it effective in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder. Better still, there is no abuse and diversion potential with naltrexone.4
Side Effects of Naltrexone
Like many medications, naltrexone has side effects. These tend to be mild in most cases if they occur at all. Keep in mind, the side effects of naltrexone are far less dangerous than the effects of continued alcohol or opioid misuse.
Naltrexone’s side effects may include:5
- Allergic reactions like skin rash, itching, or hives
- Respiratory problems
- Confusion
- Headache
- Dark urine
- Depressed mood
- Diarrhea
- Accelerated or irregular heartbeat
- Right upper belly pain
- Weakness or fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
Is Naltrexone Safe?
Yes, naltrexone is safe and effective when taken as prescribed. In fact, it is safe for patients to start taking naltrexone during medically supervised withdrawal or even if they are actively drinking, though this is not recommended.6
The biggest risk regarding naltrexone occurs when the patient does not take the medication as prescribed or mixes naltrexone with other substances, like opioids or benzos, which can increase the risk of overdose. Healthcare providers must therefore ensure the patient has fully withdrawn from all opioids before starting naltrexone therapy.6
Naltrexone’s FDA-approved label includes a warning regarding hepatotoxicity, or liver toxicity. However, these reversible effects tend to be associated with much higher doses of naltrexone than is commonly prescribed, and tend to occur only after the patient has been on these high doses for extended periods.6
Patients should talk to their physician before starting naltrexone treatment if they have been diagnosed with liver or kidney conditions, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or have hemophilia or other blood conditions.4
How Long Is Naltrexone Prescribed For?
The FDA recommends that naltrexone treatment begin only after the signs and symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal have subsided, though exceptions can be made in certain circumstances. Three to seven days of alcohol abstinence is usually recommended, as patients tend to experience fewer side effects of the medication when alcohol is completely absent from the body.6 When it comes to naltrexone for OUD, seven to ten days of abstinence is recommended.2
Naltrexone treatment typically lasts three to four months, though treatment has been known to last for up to one year with no additional safety concerns.6 Medical practitioners often continue monitoring patients after they have stopped taking the drug.2 Naltrexone does not require tapering, so patients can fully discontinue taking naltrexone without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.7
Does Insurance Cover Naltrexone?
Most insurance plans cover some or all of the cost of prescription medications for addiction treatment, and that includes naltrexone for alcohol addiction and opioid addiction. As required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, behavioral health treatments—including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), counseling, and therapy—are considered essential healthcare benefits.
However, the exact amount of coverage for medications like naltrexone depends on your specific insurance and plan. It is therefore a good idea to contact your plan provider before entering treatment to ask about coverage of specific services. Meanwhile, the admissions team at Empowered Recovery Center can answer your questions about treatment, as well as any questions regarding using insurance to pay for rehab. We can even verify your insurance benefits online or over the phone.
Alcohol & Opioid Addiction Treatment in Atlanta, GA
At our drug and alcohol rehab in Atlanta, we know that overcoming addiction is about doing the work necessary to attain a new way of thinking and a new way of living. Empowered Recovery Center’s AUD and OUD treatment programs are designed to help you in your journey toward long-term recovery and wellness.
We offer a variety of rehab programs tailored to fit your needs, including partial hospitalization programs (PHP), outpatient (OP) treatment, and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. We also offer one year of free recovery coaching and an alumni program to help you continue to build toward long-term sobriety. If you’re concerned about paying for rehab, our rehab admissions team is here to answer any questions you might have.
If you’re ready to learn more about our comprehensive and individualized addiction treatment programs in Atlanta, contact us today and take your first step toward long-term sobriety.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2023). Naltrexone. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534811/
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (1985). Naltrexone: Its Clinical Utility. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3832903/
- Psychiatric Research Institute. (n.d.). What is Naltrexone? University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Retrieved December 17, 2024, from https://psychiatry.uams.edu/clinical-care/outpatient-care/cast/what-is-naltrexone/
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). What is naltrexone? SAMHSA. Retrieved December 17, 2024, from https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naltrexone
- Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Naltrexone tablets. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/18010-naltrexone-tablets
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2009). Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies into Medical Practice, Chapter 4—Oral Naltrexone. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64042/
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2009). Naltrexone for the Management of Alcohol Dependence. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2565602/
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