Last Updated on August 12, 2026

You generally don’t need a local clinic or addiction specialist to get naltrexone. Primary care providers and licensed telehealth clinicians can prescribe it. Depending on where you live, you may be able to complete the entire process online and have the medication shipped to your door.

Naltrexone can be surprisingly difficult to find for a medication that primary care clinicians can prescribe. Treatment centers and specialty clinics are one option, but they’re far from the only one. Telehealth has made it possible for many people to get naltrexone without sitting in a waiting room.

And you don’t have to be in crisis to ask about it. If you’re drinking more than you’d like and want help cutting back, naltrexone may be worth discussing with a clinician. For many people looking for naltrexone near me, the most convenient option may be online.

You Don’t Need a Nearby Specialist to Get Naltrexone

Naltrexone is a prescription medication used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. When used for alcohol, it blocks opioid receptors involved in alcohol’s rewarding effects. This, in turn, can reduce cravings and make drinking feel less reinforcing. It isn’t addictive, and it doesn’t make you sick if you drink while taking it.

Naltrexone doesn’t have to come from an addiction clinic or specialty treatment program. In fact, SAMHSA notes that it can be prescribed in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care. Primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, and other qualified clinicians can prescribe medications for alcohol use disorder when permitted by state law.

Getting naltrexone through telehealth can make access even easier. Depending on your state and provider, you may be able to complete your evaluation remotely. For people who live far from a specialist, have limited appointment options, or simply prefer more privacy, that can remove one of the biggest barriers to getting started.

Who Can Actually Prescribe Naltrexone?

Naltrexone can be prescribed by practitioners who are licensed to prescribe medications in general, which may include primary care clinicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and telehealth providers.

Still, not every clinician is equally familiar with using naltrexone for alcohol. In a 2022 survey of prescribers across three health systems, only 23.3% said they’d prescribed naltrexone in the previous three months. One of the most common reasons for not prescribing it was simply unfamiliarity with using the medication for alcohol use disorder.

That can make access feel more complicated than it needs to be. If your regular clinician doesn’t prescribe naltrexone, it doesn’t necessarily mean the medication isn’t an option for you. A clinician who regularly works with naltrexone, including through telehealth, may be another route.

Naltrexone Is Not Just for People in Crisis

Naltrexone is often associated with addiction treatment, but you don’t have to wait until alcohol has seriously disrupted your life to ask about it. It can also be an option for people who want to drink less, even if abstinence isn’t their goal.

A 2022 randomized trial studied 120 sexual and gender minority men who binge drank and had mild to moderate alcohol use disorder. Those who received targeted naltrexone had fewer binge-drinking days, fewer drinks per month, and lower alcohol cravings than those who received a placebo.

The larger point is that wanting to change your drinking doesn’t have to begin with a crisis. If you’re regularly drinking more than you’d like, a clinician can help determine whether naltrexone is appropriate for your goals.

How to Get a Naltrexone Prescription Online

Getting naltrexone through telehealth typically starts with an assessment of your health history, current medications, drinking patterns, and goals. A licensed clinician reviews that information and determines whether naltrexone is medically appropriate for you.

One of the most important things they’ll ask about is opioid use. Because naltrexone blocks opioid receptors, people currently using opioids generally need to stop for an appropriate period before starting the medication. Your clinician may also consider your liver health and other medications or medical conditions.

If you’re approved, the prescription can then be filled according to the telehealth provider’s process. Some services send prescriptions to a local pharmacy, while others arrange medication delivery.

There’s also evidence that telehealth can help expand access to alcohol treatment. In a 2021 pilot study, primary care patients who received a telemedicine consultation with an addiction specialist were significantly more likely to be offered medication for alcohol use disorder than patients receiving usual care.

What to Look for in an Online Naltrexone Provider

Getting a prescription is important, but it’s also worth considering what kind of support you’ll have once you start taking naltrexone.

Sticking with medication can be a challenge. In a large pharmacy-claims study, more than half of people who started oral naltrexone filled only one prescription, and just 14.2% obtained enough medication to cover at least 80% of the six-month study period. These findings highlight how common it is for treatment to fall off after getting started.

When comparing online naltrexone providers, consider whether the program offers ongoing clinical support, whether it supports moderation as well as abstinence, and whether tools like drink tracking, coaching, or community support are included.

There’s some early evidence for combining these approaches. In a small 2022 pilot study, 85% of participants completed a 12-week telehealth program that combined naltrexone with cognitive behavioral therapy, and 68% reduced their drinking by at least one WHO risk level. (Note: the study included only 26 people with alcohol use disorder and had no control group.)

Among active Sunnyside Med members with 50% or more app engagement, members who engage with the app are 2.5x more likely to stay on their medication at month four than less-engaged members. (Individual results vary.)

Sunnyside Med: Naltrexone by Telehealth, Without the Waiting Room

Sunnyside Med offers online access to naltrexone along with the behavioral support that can help you make changes to your drinking over time. You’ll complete a health assessment first, and a licensed clinician will review your information and determine whether naltrexone is appropriate for you. If approved, your medication is shipped discreetly to your door.

The $99-per-month program, billed quarterly, includes medication as well as unlimited 1:1 clinical care, drink tracking and progress analytics, human coaching seven days a week, community support, and weekly group calls. There’s a one-time $50 intake fee, and the program is HSA/FSA eligible.

That combination is intentional. As Sunnyside co-founder and CEO Nick Allen explains, “This isn’t only for people at or approaching rock bottom. We’re building Sunnyside Med to provide proactive and preventive access to medication before alcohol becomes a massive negative part of your story.”

Members describe that change in similarly practical terms. One said, “For the first time in years I have control over my drinking and my cravings… I know I can have a drink, but I just don’t really want one.”

Among active Sunnyside Med members with at least 50% app engagement, 78% achieve a meaningful reduction in drinking over 12 weeks. (Again, individual results vary.)

If finding a naltrexone-friendly provider has been the thing holding you back, Sunnyside Med helps you start the process from home. Take a short assessment to see if you’re eligible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Naltrexone Near Me

Can you get naltrexone online without an in-person visit?

Yes. With Sunnyside Med, a licensed provider can evaluate you remotely and prescribe naltrexone without an in-person appointment. If approved, the prescription may be sent to a pharmacy, or the medication may be shipped directly to you.

Do I need an addiction specialist to get a naltrexone prescription?

No. Naltrexone can be prescribed by practitioners who are licensed to prescribe medications, which may include primary care clinicians, psychiatrists, and telehealth providers. You don’t necessarily need to see an addiction specialist.

Can I get naltrexone without an AUD diagnosis?

You don’t necessarily need to arrive with an existing alcohol use disorder diagnosis. A clinician will review your drinking patterns, health history, medications, and goals to determine whether naltrexone is medically appropriate for you.

Can naltrexone help me cut back without quitting?

Yes. Naltrexone can be used as part of a moderation approach. A 2022 randomized trial found that targeted naltrexone reduced binge-drinking days, drinks per month, and cravings among the studied group of people with mild to moderate AUD who binge drank. You don’t necessarily have to pursue abstinence to talk with a clinician about naltrexone.

Does naltrexone require a prescription?

Yes. Oral naltrexone is a prescription medication and isn’t available over the counter. A qualified clinician must evaluate you and determine whether it’s appropriate.

How much does naltrexone cost without insurance?

The cost depends on how you get it. Generic naltrexone from a pharmacy may cost less than a telehealth program that includes clinical care, coaching, or behavioral support. Sunnyside Med costs $99 per month, billed quarterly, plus a one-time $50 intake fee and includes medication, clinical care, coaching, tracking tools, and community support.

Naltrexone is a prescription medication. This content is educational and should not be taken as medical advice. A licensed clinician reviews every Sunnyside Med application.