The best naltrexone program isn’t necessarily one marketed specifically to women. It’s one that provides good clinical care, helps you stay engaged with treatment, and provides practical support.
AA and naltrexone aren’t two versions of the same treatment. One is a peer-support program built around abstinence. The other is a prescription medication that can help reduce heavy drinking. Understanding that difference makes comparing them much more clarifying.
If your drinking hasn’t cost you a job or damaged your relationships, it’s easy to feel like: Do I have any real options to help me make a change? But you don’t need a crisis to want something to change.
Naltrexone does not appear to consistently lower sex drive. Sexual changes have been reported, but research hasn’t established decreased libido as a common effect. Alcohol can also affect sexual function, making it difficult to attribute changes to naltrexone alone.
Naltrexone doesn’t treat acute alcohol withdrawal, and it doesn’t trigger alcohol withdrawal on its own. Withdrawal happens when someone who is physically dependent on alcohol suddenly stops drinking or substantially cuts back. Naltrexone works differently, reducing the reward and reinforcement associated with drinking.
Naltrexone isn’t a new or experimental drug. Researchers began studying its potential for alcohol use in the 1980s, after animal studies found that blocking opioid receptors could reduce drinking. But a surprising number of people don’t know just how well-researched it is.
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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