If you’re considering or about to start taking naltrexone, you might be picturing one of two extremes. The first: you take a pill, and the desire to drink just vanishes. The second: you take a pill and feel like a zombie who can’t enjoy anything. Both are understandable fears… and both are probably not what you’ll experience.
Naltrexone is well-studied and effective for plenty of people who want to change their relationship with drinking, including plenty of Sunnyside Med members. So why isn’t it prescribed more often?
You get the prescription. The instructions say “take once daily.” Then, you find yourself wondering: Does the timing matter? Should naltrexone be taken in the morning or at night? What happens if you drink several hours after taking it? And why do some people online talk about taking it one hour before drinking?
The real question isn’t which protocol is better in the abstract. It’s which one fits the way you actually drink, and what kind of support you have around you. Naltrexone is an effective medication. But how you take it, and whether you keep taking it, does make a difference.
Once you’ve decided to take naltrexone to change your relationship with alcohol, there are two main protocols you can choose from in terms of timing: daily dosing and targeted dosing. Targeted dosing, or taking naltrexone specifically before you drink, is most commonly known as The Sinclair Method. Here’s how it works.
You’re keeping it to a glass or two most nights; your relationships and job feel unaffected, and nobody seems worried about you. You’re a low-to-moderate drinker. And yet… It’s possible that even “moderate” drinking is having more of an effect than you thought.
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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