Stop Drinking Now ... Naltrexone For Alcohol Abuse And Dependence
There are a variety of methods for treatment for alcohol dependence. Some of these methods include education and support to stop drinking, medicines to reduce withdrawal symptoms and stop alcohol cravings, and professional counseling to work through relationship issues. However there is a new method on the market, a drug with the brand name chemical ReVia [formerly called Trexan], Vivitrolnaltrexone. This drug is taken as an injection, usually into a muscle once a month. Naltrexone is also available in pill form.
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that works by interfering with the part of the brain which involved in producing the pleasurable effects that are received from drinking alcohol or other drugs.
Basically, Naltrexone is used to reduce the pleasurable effects received from alcohol. This drug can be used alone or it can be combined with other medicines to treat alcohol dependence.
To be most effective in treating alcoholism Naltrexone works in conjunction with counseling.1 Most studies show that naltrexone significantly reduces your chance for relapse after you have stopped drinking.2 But it might not be effective in treating men with severe, ongoing alcohol dependence.3
Naltrexone can cause nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. It can also cause headaches and make you feel anxious, sleepy, or nervous.
You might develop liver damage if you have existing liver disease (such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure) and take too much naltrexone.
This medicine may cause withdrawal symptoms if you are addicted to narcotics.
In some instances you may need to take naltrexone for several months to effectively prevent relapse.
Vivitrol, a monthly injection of this medicine, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat drinking problems. This form of naltrexone can be useful for people who have a hard time deciding whether or not to take the medicine each day.
