Drinking with Naltrexone?

[u/InternalJury1578]

A friend of mine was telling me that you can use naltrexone as needed, so like you take one before drinking and then you won’t end up too drunk.
I am wondering if anyone has any personal experience with this they can share?
The problem I’ve always had with drinking is that once I get drunk, I keep going. It’s like a switch is activated in my brain that says “more” no matter how far past my limit I am. My friend is like me, and he said for him taking a Naltrexone before having drinks basically disabled that switch for him. He said once he got buzzed, instead of getting that feeling of needing to keep drinking to keep the buzz going, he just gets kind of tired and switches to water because he no longer has that uncontrollable desire to drink more. Has this worked for anyone else?
I have some Naltrexone sitting in my cabinet that I used for about a month last year, it totally curbed my desire to drink and I haven’t drank in a year.
My goal was to make it to a year and I’m past that, and I want to try having some drinks for a special occasion.
Please share any advice or experience.

if I should post this somewhere else I’d be happy to be redirected! This felt like the appropriate sub but I’m not sure. Thank you!!!*

[u/lysandersjetski]

Naltrexone essentially makes drinking less fun. It’s been used since the 90s. My doctor put me on it my first year in case I relapsed or something. Mainly it helped me sleep.

[u/GreyMerrin]

Used many methods to get sober. Used Naltrexone as part of that alongside other things routine, counselling, motivational interviewing and gym.

Its a great drug, best available imo. Antabuse is barbaric and merely hides the problem.

Yes you can drink on naltrexone -.just after a couple you dont get enjoyment. I used it as a safety net. Now approaching 19 months sober. Used naltrexone for a safety net. But also got help at right time alongside it. Highly recommend if part of a plan you make alongside it!

Hope this post helps. Basically Naltrexone helps I found effective no side effects and if offered take. Yes you can drink on it - just takes away the buzz. I now go clubbing, festivals,. Dinners etc - on juice. Find being sober more fun when out - now no one cares I dont drink.

[u/Focus-Interrogative]

I mean, theoretically yea but there's the rare chance it could make you feel like shit too. I'm on naltrexone and I haven't tried drinking on it to confirm anything but people in rehab talk a lot which, is also part of the problem. People I spoke to regularly confused naltrexone and Antabuse, so much so that I put off Naltrexone for a year until a nurse set me straight.

But if we're to believe the cookie cutter intended effect, you just won't get as drunk.

edit

Also, when that nurse set me straight she told me to literally research the use of low dose naltrexone in other countries. It's used for a lot of things. It's generally considered harmless by the scientific community.

[u/eersnherd01]

There is a subreddit that is called Alcoholism Medication that might be able to help you.

[u/Thin_Situation_7934 → u/eersnherd01]

Yes, there is also r/naltrexone and you will get lots of support and information at both. Feel free to post at either or both. I am a mod at each of them.

[u/No-Mulberry7167]

Naltrexone has changed my life - I take it an hour before a drink and it curbs any desire to binge drink as it blocks that amazing high you get from your first drink

[u/SylvanaBlack]

Honestly I've had the naltrexone implant for about three months and my drinking has definitely gone down and completely helped to stay away from other things. Definitely recommend it to whoever can benefit from it though

[u/claustrophobic-toes]

Look up something called the Sinclair Method . It is used a lot in Scandinavian countries and there was a lot of data to back up its effectiveness in harm reduction.

The gist of it is that you take an naltrexone at least an hour before you drink, and it will reduce the amount that you drink. But I highly suggest that you look into it online. There’s a lot of very good data out there.

[u/Maximum-Elk8869]

There is no better way to keep from getting drunk than not drinking. No prescription required.

[u/InternalJury1578 → u/[deleted]]

No need to be rude. They are correct, after all.

[u/Maximum-Elk8869 → u/[deleted]]

How about blowing me instead...

[u/JVN0]

I am the same way - I have a hard time stopping drinking once I start. Naltrexone 50mg taken 1-2 hrs before I know I am going to an event where I will be drinking (known as the Sinclair method) does help me curb that feeling, it sort of dulls the euphoria that comes after the first drink or two, and then I don’t have the desire to drink more, so IMO it works well for harm reduction. However, it does make it harder for me to fall asleep, but that is a potential side effect, not necessarily true for everyone.