While not everyone experiences anxiety after drinking, many people report feeling more emotionally vulnerable or on edge during a hangover. Not just fatigued or nursing a headache—feeling real anxiety, dread, racing thoughts, or a sense that something bad is about to happen.
You’ve been taking naltrexone for a few weeks. You’ve been following your treatment plan. But it feels like naltrexone is not working. Nothing feels different, and you’re starting to wonder whether this whole thing was a mistake.
If you’re considering naltrexone for cutting back on drinking, you’re not overreacting. Naltrexone was designed for people who want to drink less, not just people who need to stop. And the science increasingly supports using it before things get severe.
Naltrexone — an FDA-approved medication — works by blocking part of alcohol’s rewarding effect, which may help reduce cravings, heavy drinking, and cue-driven habits over time. Studies show it can be especially helpful for people trying to cut back rather than quit entirely, particularly when combined with behavioral support programs like tracking, coaching, and habit-change tools like Sunnyside.
Taking naltrexone isn’t a reset button — you already know that. It’s more like a window, creating enough space for drinking patterns to soften, cravings to subside, and you to explore new and healthier routines. The medication can change the noise levels you experience around alcohol, but what you implement during that period of quiet has a huge impact on what lasts.
Maybe you started naltrexone just expecting changes in cravings. You didn’t expect the dreams. Then, suddenly, you’re texting friends about bizarre dream-world storylines or wondering why sleep feels different even though you’re drinking less. Isn’t sleep supposed to feel better? Well, don’t worry too much. If this is happening to you, it’s likely temporary — and it’s something Sunnyside Med can help you work through.
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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