You’re thinking about drinking less and considering naltrexone as an option to help. But you’ve also finally found the right antidepressant for you—whether it’s Lexapro (escitalopram), Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), or another medication—and you’re worried that adding naltrexone could undo the progress you’ve made.
Feeling guilty after drinking doesn’t always mean you did something wrong. Alcohol changes brain chemistry, disrupts sleep, and can temporarily increase anxiety and self-criticism the next day. For many people, guilt also reflects a mismatch between how they drank and how they wanted to drink, rather than the events of the night itself.
Why do they always give people in movies coffee to sober up? Some part of you probably already suspects it doesn’t work, and you’re right. It doesn’t. None of those “classic” tricks change how quickly your liver processes alcohol. Only time does.
Alcohol and perimenopause can be a frustrating combination. Alcohol doesn’t cause perimenopause, but it can worsen many of the same symptoms, including poor sleep, next-day anxiety, hot flashes, and night sweats. During this hormonal transition, many women find that even the amount of alcohol they used to tolerate leaves them feeling worse than it once did.
Compounded naltrexone and generic naltrexone contain the same active medication, but the experience of taking them can be different. Most information about compounded naltrexone focuses on low-dose naltrexone, or LDN, which is often discussed in connection with chronic pain and autoimmune conditions. But naltrexone can also be compounded specifically for people who want to reduce their alcohol intake.
Naltrexone may help reduce binge drinking by making alcohol feel less rewarding and the urge to keep drinking easier to interrupt. Research suggests it can benefit people who want to drink less, including those who don’t drink every day or want to quit completely.
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About Sunnyside
Sunnyside is a comprehensive platform for building a healthier relationship with alcohol. We combine a behavior-change app, real human coaching, and Sunnyside Med — our Telehealth service where licensed providers can prescribe medication to help reduce alcohol cravings. Members using the Sunnyside app report an average 33% reduction in weekly alcohol consumption, and Sunnyside Med customers are reducing their drinking by nearly 50% on average — along with improved sleep, better mental clarity, and an overall improved sense of well-being.
What is Naltrexone? Naltrexone is a medication that works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, which reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol and helps decrease cravings. Originally approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of alcohol dependence, Naltrexone has been shown in clinical studies to significantly reduce heavy drinking days and support long-term moderation. Sunnyside Med prescribes a compounded oral formulation containing Naltrexone as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes coaching, tracking, and ongoing medical support.
Sunnyside Med connects you with licensed medical providers who can prescribe compounded medication containing Naltrexone, an active ingredient that is FDA-approved to support alcohol moderation, through a private Telehealth process. Sunnyside Med is not a substitute for emergency services or inpatient treatment. If you are in crisis or experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, please contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or call 911. We are proud partners of Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol.
Alcohol Moderation guides