Sunnyside Med works on two fronts. Naltrexone can quiet cravings and make alcohol feel less rewarding. Meanwhile, the Sunnyside app helps you tackle the habits around drinking with tracking, weekly planning, coaching, and community support.
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.
To get naltrexone in California, you don’t need a specialty clinic. Primary care providers and licensed telehealth clinicians can prescribe it, and California residents can be evaluated online and have the medication shipped to their door. Wanting to drink less, not just quit, is a valid reason to explore naltrexone as an option.
The DSM-5 doesn’t decide whether you’re an “alcoholic.” Instead, it places alcohol use disorder on a spectrum based on 11 specific criteria. For many people, recognizing mild or moderate AUD is the first indication that their relationship with alcohol may be worth reevaluating.
Short answer: Oral naltrexone and Vivitrol contain the same active medication. The difference between them is how they’re administered. Oral naltrexone is a daily pill. Vivitrol is a long-acting injection administered monthly by a healthcare provider.
People often wonder if they need to identify as an alcoholic to receive naltrexone, or they’re convinced their drinking is in too much of a gray area for them to qualify. But you don’t have to hit rock bottom or be in full crisis to be a candidate for naltrexone.
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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